site.btaBurgas, Gdansk Expand Cooperation in Tourism, Cultural, Academic Exchange

A vision for expanded cooperation between the Bulgarian coastal city of Burgas and the Polish city of Gdansk with an emphasis on tourism, cultural and academic exchange between the two twin cities was presented by Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov on Thursday during a joint press conference in Gdansk with the participation of representatives of local authorities, diplomatic missions and tourist organizations. 

The press conference was also attended by Burgas Regional Governor Vladimir Krumov, Lech Walesa Airport Director Tomasz Kloskowski, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Poland Margarita Ganeva, representatives of the Bulgarian Embassy and the National Tourism Representation, as well as the Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Gdansk Jan Stravinsky.

Among the initiatives discussed were the expansion of direct air connections between Burgas and Gdansk, year-round campaigns to promote the two cities, exchange of advertising space, as well as new joint events in the field of culture and education.

Currently, Burgas Airport continues to serve regular and charter flights from Poland, as the country remains one of the leading sources of tourists for the region. During the summer season, direct flights from the Polish cities of Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, Katowice, Lublin and Poznanare are available. These routes are seasonal and usually operate from the end of March to September or October.

Ganeva emphasized the importance of inter-institutional dialogue and cultural exchange as the basis for sustainable bilateral relations, defining the successful interaction between local authorities as an example of effective diplomacy at the regional level.

Nikolov and Krumov held a meeting with Gdansk Mayor Alexandra Dulkevich, at which they discussed opportunities for new partnerships in the areas of sustainable tourism, digitalization, youth programmes and cultural exchange. Nikolov also met with former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa.