site.btaMinister Borshosh Sees Connectivity and Cleanliness as Crucial in Tourism

Modern tourism cannot thrive without effective connectivity, accessibility, and cleanliness, and local needs are best understood when you're on the ground, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh said on Saturday during an off-site meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism held in Sozopol. According to him, this is the second successful instance of such a regional session, which enables direct insight into the needs of local authorities.

"This is part of the government’s effort to strengthen cooperation with local authorities. I’ve noticed that mayors have been a bit more cheerful and at ease lately, compared to previous years. That’s likely because they see prospects—they can plan ahead, expect funding for their projects—things that were previously overlooked or forgotten," the minister highlighted. He praised the composition of attendees at the committee session, noting that tourism is closely tied to the work of several institutions, including the Ministry of Transport. Today's meeting included Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, representatives from numerous state institutions, the NGO sector in tourism, and local stakeholders including universities.

"Fifty percent of tourism, any way you look at it, is connectivity and accessibility. That’s the reality—if you can’t reach a place, no matter what the industry offers or how much is invested, tourism simply won’t happen," said Borshosh. He described improving both the quality and quantity of access routes to tourist destinations as a major challenge for both state and local authorities. He stressed the importance of the active role that municipalities must play in developing connectivity policies—often creating their own mechanisms for investment, supported by the state. He cited Burgas Province as a leading example of this model thanks to the support of local mayors.

The minister also highlighted the crucial role of air travel. "Modern tourism, without exaggeration, is held hostage by airline routes. Without a clear national and local strategy, growth is not to be expected. Our neighbours, especially Turkey, have overtaken us in developing their airports into international hubs," Borshosh stated. He expressed hope that the new management of the Varna and Burgas airport concessionaire, Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, will understand the importance of airport fee policies. "Without a clear incentive structure, such as discounted fees for airlines, sustainable growth in flights is not achievable. Bulgaria must become a destination you don’t have to think twice about reaching," he added.

As another priority, Borshosh emphasised cleanliness in resort towns. "This simple word means a great deal to the development of tourism. The sector expects improvements in both accessibility and cleanliness—from both the state and local authorities. I walked through Primorsko today and saw how clean it was. They clean the town three times a day. That’s possible when local government is committed and invests in that direction. It’s not easy for a municipality to maintain a staff of over 200 people dedicated to cleanliness," he said.

In Sozopol, the minister again reaffirmed the Tourism Ministry’s openness to dialogue with the industry:
"To me, a challenge means an opportunity—I’m not afraid of that word. We are ready for all discussions regarding proposals from the sector. This isn’t the first time we’re at the same table," Borshosh concluded.