Bulgaria and Greece signed a Programme for Joint Action in the field of Tourism

Minister Zaritza Dinkova opened the 38^th edition of Philoxenia Expo in Thessaloniki as guest of honour

Bulgaria and Greece signed the 2024-2026 Programme for joint actions in the field of tourism. The agreement was signed before the official opening of the International Tourism Expo PHILOXENIA 2023, where Bulgaria is the guest of honour and participates with a stand of 100 square meters.

‘The signing of the Programme will further strengthen bilateral relations. It will launch new joint projects and initiatives, create common tourism business networks, develop projects to promote investment and the development of tourism products,’ Minister Dinkova said.

In the framework of the meeting with her Greek counterpart Olga Kefalogianni, Zaritza Dinkova pointed out that mutual political trust has been deepening in recent years. ‘Trade and economic relations are developing, including at the regional level. Cooperation in the field of culture and education is fruitful. We also appreciate your support for Bulgaria's Schengen membership,’ she added.

Tourism is a sector that offers new economic opportunities, and our cultural heritage connects people, Minister Dinkova said. ‘Our bilateral cooperation is developing more and more intensively. The number of Greek tourists in Bulgaria continues to grow and Greece remains one of the most preferred destinations for Bulgarian tourists,’ she added.

An event like Philoxenia Expo is a modern opportunity to create a platform aimed at exploiting our tourism potential and strengthening cross-border partnerships, the Bulgarian Tourism Minister noted at the opening of the exhibition. ‘We are changing the growth model to a new one that is more sustainable, environmentally friendly, digital and inclusive to enable the sector to face the challenges ahead,’ Zaritza Dinkova stressed.