site.btaAlbena Resort Hosts 8th SMARTOURISM.BG Conference, Hackathon 2025

The 8th SMARTOURISM.BG International Conference and Hackathon 2025 are opening at the Albena resort near the Black Sea city of Varna on Thursday, the event's press office said. The two-day forum will focus on innovation, high technology and knowledge management in the tourism sector.

The event is held under the patronage of the Tourism Ministry in partnership with the Education and Science Ministry. The Bulgarian Hotel Association is a principal co-organizer, while Albena AD is the host.

The emphasis this year is on promoting tourism professions and attracting young people through innovative solutions. The conference will include a presentation on cooperation between businesses and educational institutions on the state educational standards in tourism.

School and university students will meet representatives of leading companies and explore job options. Topics to be discussed include intelligent human resources management, high-tech management models and the sustainable development of tourist destinations.

Alongside the conference, the SMARTOURISM.BG 2025 Hackathon will take place, bringing together young people specializing in tourism, architecture and technology for the seventh year in a row. They will work on project ideas and applications related to the future of smart tourism.

As part of the forum, the SMARTOURISM.BG Annual National Awards for contributions to the development of smart tourism in Bulgaria will be presented. Some of the distinctions will be awarded by representatives of the Bulgarian Hotel Association, who will offer opportunities for paid internships and qualification programmes.