Balneology and SPA Are Investment in Bulgaria’s Workforce and Future, Says BUBSPA Ambassador

Tatiana Marinova

Meglena Plugchieva, Ambassador of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, addresses the BG Tourism – Winter 2025/2026 forum, Pamporovo, December 6, 2025 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Pamporovo, Southern Bulgaria,

06.12.2025 13:11

(BTA)

Balneology and SPA are not only a form of tourism but an investment in the workforce and in the future of the country, said Meglena Plugchieva, Ambassador of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), during the BG Tourism – Winter 2025/2026 forum held in Pamporovo on Saturday.

The forum is organized by BTA in partnership with the Municipality of Chepelare, the BUBSPA, and the resort of Pamporovo. The event is part of BTA's initiative to host forums twice a year – at the beginning of the summer and winter tourist seasons – to discuss the messages for the presentation of tourism in Bulgaria during the upcoming season with representatives of state and municipal institutions, the tourism business, non-governmental organizations, scientists, and experts.

According to Plugchieva, with the development of health and balneological tourism, Bulgaria is increasingly becoming a recognized 365-day destination. Europe is investing more and more in prevention and prophylaxis through health and balneological tourism, she stressed.

The European trend in health tourism and balneology focuses on prevention and investment in prophylaxis, particularly in the context of the demographic crisis and climate change, Plugchieva said. She noted that the Union works with the largest insurance companies in Austria, and that certified Bulgarian hotels offering balneological and wellness tourism are already included in catalogues in Germany and Austria. Climate therapy is also part of health tourism, and the Rhodope Mountains rank among the world’s compact mountain regions with recognised climate-therapeutic qualities, Plougchieva said. In her view, Bulgaria should give far more consideration to the use of climate therapy, which is becoming increasingly relevant not only in Europe but globally.

The accessibility of mountain destinations, and of Bulgaria as a destination more broadly, is also linked to the issue of work and tourist visas, Plougchieva noted. Without improving accessibility to Bulgaria, she said, additional growth in the sector cannot be expected.

Among those invited to participate in the forum are parliamentary Tourism Committee Chairman Desislav Taskov (BSP – United Left), Minister of Youth and Sports Ivan Peshev, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh, and deputy ministers. The forum will also include representatives of local authorities, heads of organizations in the tourism business and resort complexes, and educational institutions in the field of tourism. Dr. Simona Veleva, Chair of the Council for Electronic Media, and leaders of media outlets that are members of the Union of Bulgarian National Electronic Media, of which BTA is also a member, have also been invited: Milen Mitev, Director General of Bulgarian National Radio and Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian National Electronic Media, Anton Andonov, Member of the Management Board of Bulgarian National Television, Gospodin Yovchev, Chief Operating Officer of bTV Media Group, Marta Evtimova, Chief Producer of News and Current Affairs at Nova Broadcasting Group, as well as other national and regional media outlets.

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