Bulgaria Participates in One of the Largest European Exhibitions — the International Tourism Exhibition FITUR in Madrid

The Ministry of Tourism participated, representing Bulgaria, in one of the key international exhibitions in tourism and the largest on the Spanish market — the FITUR exhibition in Madrid. It is the first of the calendar year, taking place from 18—22 January 2023 and is intended for both professionals and the general public, with a number of political figures and tourism ministers in attendance.

On the Bulgarian side, a Bulgarian delegation from the Ministry of Tourism, led by Deputy Minister Irena Georgieva, took part in the exhibition. She attended the official reception for the heads of delegations participating in FITUR, which was held by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

During the event, Deputy Minister Georgieva met with the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Reyes Maroto and the Director of the Regional Department ‘Europe’ at the UNWTO, Alejandra Priante. In the talks were discussed topical issues of mutual interest related to the development and expansion of cooperation in the field of tourism. Special emphasis was put on the upcoming hosting of Bulgaria at the 68 session of the Regional UNWTO Commission for Europe, which will be held in Sofia at the end of May — beginning of June this year.

Within the framework of the exhibition, Deputy Minister Irena Georgieva held a bilateral meeting with Mariana Oleskiv, Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine. At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Minister Georgieva offered her condolences to the representatives of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine who died in the crash of the Ukrainian helicopter.

In the course of the talks the traditionally good bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Ukraine were discussed, especially in the field of tourism. The perspectives for their development and expansion through the completion of the contractual and legal base in the tourism sector were discussed. Last summer, Mariana Oleskiv was on an official visit to Bulgaria, but the war undoubtedly changed the course of plans in bilateral cooperation.

Irena Georgieva and Mariana Oleskiv exchanged ideas on good practices and new opportunities. Deputy Minister Georgieva noted that the establishment of cooperation between universities from both countries, exchange of students for internships in tourism is also a form and an opportunity to expand cooperation.

Mariana Oleskiv noted that she plans to visit Bulgaria in the framework of the 68 session of the Regional UNWTO Commission for Europe, as the two countries unanimously agreed to mutually support each other's candidacies for membership in the Executive Board of the UN World Tourism Organization.

The Ambassador of Bulgaria to the Kingdom of Spain Aleksey Andreev attended the official opening of the tourism forum, he visited the national stand and congratulated the Bulgarian companies.

The Ministry of Tourism participates with an information stand on an area of 100 square meters, where 10 representatives of the Bulgarian tourism sector present their products. Along with the Ministry of Tourism, the national stand will be attended by Balkania Tour OOD, Filiptour 1 OOD, Tandem Travel OOD, World Synergy Travel Bulgaria Ltd, Odiseya Insta OOD, Ltd, Gloria Tours OOD, the airport operator of the capital's airport SOF Connect AD, Tsarevgrad Tarnov EOOD, My Story Travel EOOD, Varna Municipality, Evroprogram Konsult EOOD (Plovdiv Municipality) and Sofia Municipality OP ‘Tourism’.

During the five days of FITUR, a total of 8,360 exhibitors will present themselves on an area of several tens of thousands of square metres, with an estimated 82,000 participants expected to be present with business.