site.btaPlovdiv Hosts News Conference ahead of 9th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism

Plovdiv hosted a news conference on Sunday ahead of the 9th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which will take place in the city on October 6 and 7.

The event was attended by Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh, Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, Chirpan Mayor Ivaylo Kracholov, Hisarya Mayor Iva Valcheva, Prof. Plamen Mollov from the University of Food Technologies in Plovdiv, Sandra Carvao from UN Tourism, and UN Tourism ambassador for gastronomic tourism Pilar Rodriguez, among others.

During the news conference, Minister Miroslav Borshosh recalled that the event is the largest international platform dedicated to the discussion and development of wine tourism. "The very fact that Bulgaria is hosting the 9th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism is a guarantee that the country’s wine tourism is looking toward international markets and will establish Bulgaria as one of the important destinations, ranking alongside major and well-known countries. This is the first major step we are taking toward developing wine tourism. This year, through our efforts both domestically and internationally, Bulgaria has succeeded in presenting itself as an important and significant player in tourism not only on the national level but also in the European and global context," he noted. "Thanks to the focus on wine tourism this year a new national organization has finally been established in Bulgaria, bringing together the most important wineries offering wine tourism," he added. Borshosh announced that, together with the newly formed Bulgarian Association for Wine Tourism, his ministry is launching a comprehensive campaign to develop a national strategy for the sector.

UN Tourism's Sandra Carvao said that positioning wine tourism in Bulgaria confirms and strengthens the country’s role in the development of tourism worldwide. She expressed her satisfaction that wine tourism can have such a strong impact, as it creates opportunities and jobs, supports regional cohesion, since most of the activity takes place inland, and brings tangible benefits to local communities. Regarding the upcoming event, Carvao noted that over the next two days, global leaders, top wineries, policy makers, and representatives of major online platforms from around 30 countries will meet in Plovdiv to discuss the future and emerging trends in wine tourism. The two-day conference will explore how wine tourism can be integrated with other art forms and examine opportunities in technology, talent development, and human resources within the sector, Carvao said.

UN Tourism ambassador for gastronomic tourism Pilar Rodriguez noted that the combination of wine and food can help visitors experience a destination in a more authentic and complete way. Rodriguez said that it was an honor for her to share the experience she has gained over the past 20 years in Chile. During this period the country has seen significant growth in its wine industry. She said that working with wine can bring together two worlds and develop gastronomy as well, adding that wine and food go hand in hand.

Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov said that the 9th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism is putting Plovdiv in the global spotlight of wine tourism. He noted that Plovdiv deserves to host the conference, as the city is a crossroads that offers not only facilities such as accommodation and conference venues but also a tradition and potential for future development. In addition to its archaeological and historical attractions and cultural heritage, which every visitor can experience, Plovdiv has the potential to further expand its tourism sector. 

Chirpan Mayor Ivaylo Kracholov said that in addition to its festival-based wine tourism, for the past two years Chirpan has also been developing camper and camping tourism. He noted that Chirpan is also a region long known for its winemaking traditions and vineyard cultivation. "We built on that, on our rich cultural heritage, and succeeded by combining wine with events and festivals,” Kracholov added. He cited the International Lavender Festival and the Midalidare Rock Festival, the latter of which this year alone attracted over 50,000 people. "Now we are promoting a new event called Vineyard Trails, which took place just two weeks ago and combines nature, sports, and wine," he said. Kracholov noted that the event covers more than 60 kilometres of the most  stunning vineyard landscapes, offering opportunities for cycling and running, while also allowing visitors to enjoy tastings along the way.

Hisarya Mayor Iva Valcheva noted that Bulgaria has been recognized for its ability to develop tourism in its various aspects, adding that hosting the conference is a major recognition for Bulgaria and a testament to the efforts of the Tourism Ministry and local authorities. She pointed out that the participation of a large municipality like Plovdiv, alongside smaller ones like Hisarya and Chirpan, reflects good cooperation among institutions across different sectors, including wine tourism.

Prof. Plamen Mollov from the University of Food Technologies (UFT) in Plovdiv said that UFT will sign a memorandum with UN Tourism on Monday, thereby becoming the eleventh higher education institution worldwide to partner with the organization. "This is important for us because it will allow us to further develop our educational programmes, provide advanced training for the business sector, and invite global leaders in the field of tourism and top-level experts," Mollov said.