site.btaUPDATED Vice President Iotova Speaks at Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Annual Awards Ceremony

At the annual Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) awards ceremony on Tuesday, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that Bulgaria's culture and history can best be represented through tourism. The association is the first professional organization in tourism to present awards since 1996.

Iotova said that something the industry could do for both Bulgarians and visitors is to link the tourism service and product "with even more history, with even more culture". 

The Vice President wished for a Christmas miracle in the form of a stable government, stable institutions, so that all those who are parties to this process, Bulgaria's incredible scientists, archaeologists, people who deal with Bulgarian culture, can finally make a truly common strategy and benefit Bulgaria. 

Iotova extended greetings to the participants in the ceremony and the BHRA leadership of on behalf of President Rumen Radev with wishes for even more success in the coming year.

The Vice President said that  it is not enough to just report the growth of tourists in the country, but it is necessary to note what lies behind it - the work of people in the industry, dealing with difficulties, regardless of obstacles, as well as the fact that it is no longer enough to provide a tourist destination, but for the tourists to be satisfied with what they received. 

Deputy Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva welcomed the organization and participants of the forum on behalf of caretaker Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev and on her own behalf. "Your contribution to the development of our country as a leading tourist destination deserves admiration," she said, addressing the business circles of the tourism business. She pointed out that for the first nine months of this year, Bulgaria welcomed 10.7 million foreign tourists, which is an increase of 2.5% compared to 2019. 

BHRA Management Board Chair Georgi Shterev stated during the opening ceremony that the BHRA annual awards are one of the most significant events of the organization during the year. "Every year we try to recognize the work of our colleagues, who, especially in the last year, have proven that Bulgarian tourism has a future," said Shterev. He recalled that last year the Association celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and stressed that during this time the organization has established itself as an indispensable factor in the political life of the country.

"Very few things in the last 35 years in Bulgaria have proven to be sustainable, but the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association has held on and for the 29th time it is handing out its awards to the people who deserve them," the Vice President said.