BUBSPA Deputy Chair: Plovdiv Airport Gateway to Pamporovo

Tatiana Marinova

Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, Zhivko Ivanov, addresses the BG Tourism – Winter 2025/2026 forum, Pamporovo, December 6, 2025 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Pamporovo, Southern Bulgaria,

07.12.2025 13:54

(BTA)

Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), Zhivko Ivanov, said that for him, Plovdiv Airport serves as the gateway to Pamporovo. Ivanov was speaking during the BG TOURISM – WINTER 2025/2026 forum held in Pamporovo on Saturday.

The forum was organized by BTA in partnership with the Municipality of Chepelare, the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (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.

“The truth is that many travelers from Sofia are aware of the difficulties of reaching Pamporovo, especially in terms of travel time,” he added.

Ivanov announced plans to introduce a winter flight from Tel Aviv to Plovdiv and emphasized that such flights should eventually operate year-round. “Plovdiv is the gateway to Hisarya, the balneology resorts in the Rhodope Mountains, Devin and Velingrad. Accordingly, this gateway also opens to the city of Plovdiv itself, which is a remarkable destination,” Ivanov said, expressing hope that Bulgaria, and Pamporovo in particular, will continue to be successfully promoted in 2026.

BUBSPA Deputy Chair highlighted several key markets for Pamporovo this winter, stressing the importance of Turkiye and noting visa facilitation for visitors from that country. He also identified Israel as a priority market, pointing to an initiative by the Association to produce a film in collaboration with Israel’s national television, showcasing Bulgaria as a year-round balneology destination. “The focus was Sofia and Vitosha. We achieved high viewership for two films made for this destination. We are now actively working on a winter season film for Pamporovo with the Chepelare Municipality,” he said.

Ivanov added that significant marketing campaigns had been launched, including a feature in the in-flight magazine of Israel’s second-largest airline group, with Bulgaria - Sofia appearing on both the front and back covers in November. “We managed to promote our three winter resorts, working closely with Pamporovo AD and our colleagues from Bansko and Borovets. The Association successfully positioned all three resorts as ski destinations in the Israeli media,” Ivanov said.

He congratulated BTA Director General Kiril Valchev on his re-election and thanked the agency for its positive, targeted, and consistent work in the tourism sector. Ivanov also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism, Minister Miroslav Borshosh, and Chepelare Mayor Boran Hadzhiev.

/NF/