site.btaBulgaria and Greece to Participate Jointly in Council of Europe Cultural Routes

Meeting on Thursday, Tourism Minister Zaritsa Dinkova and Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Alexios Marios Lyberopoulos discussed the development and certification of joint Bulgarian-Greek routes within the cultural routes of the Council of Europe and the sharing of experience in education and additional training in the field of tourism, Dinkova's ministry reported.

The Minister said: "Both Bulgaria and Greece are working to develop and establish themselves as year-round travel destinations. Bulgaria is developing very successfully in the area of mountain and SPA tourism."

The two countries' tourism ministries plan to sign a joint action programme for the period 2024-2026 during the 87th Thessaloniki International Fair, scheduled for September 9-17. Bulgaria will be the Honoured Country at the Thessaloniki Fair. During the event in Greece's second-largest city, Bulgarian experts will host discussions on the digital transformation of the tourism industry.

Ambassador Lyberopoulos said Greece firmly supports Bulgaria's bid to join the Schengen area of free movement. He said it is unacceptable to have such poor connectivity between two neighbouring member states of the EU.

The Bulgaria-Greece Working Group on Tourism is expected to hold its first session in Sofia later this year.