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Deputy Minister Irena Georgieva takes part in the 15th European Tourism Forum
The main challenges facing the tourism sector, both in Europe and in Bulgaria, are maintaining security and stability, economic competitiveness, development of IT technologies, and increasing the demand for new products. Thus said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, during her participation in a High-Level Debate within the framework of the 15th European Tourism Forum. The event is held in Bratislava, Slovakia, during the period October 10-12, 2016.
The forum was opened by Slovakia’s Minister of Transport and Regional Development, Arpad Ershek, with the official ceremony also attended by the EC commissioner for Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Elżbieta Bieńkowska.
Two major topics are discussed during the debate – Challenges facing the European Tourism Sector and Cooperation to Promote Destination Europe in the Context of 2018 – announcement of China’s year in Europe and the European year of cultural heritage.
In regards to the development of the tourism industry in Bulgaria, Deputy Minister Irena Georgieva commented that as a result of the purposeful actions of the Ministry of Tourism record growth is registered in the number of international tourists in our country. She highlighted in her statement that in the course of the first eight months of 2016 alone, Bulgaria was visited by slightly over 6 mil. international tourists, registering a 15,7% growth compared to the same period of 2015.
The increasing number of tourists also boosts significantly tourism revenues – a growth of 15% being registered for the first seven months of 2016, compared to the same period of 2015, Irena Georgieva announced further.
In the aspect of the traditionally good dialogue with PRC, Deputy Minister Georgieva informed that there is a signed Memorandum for cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism of Republic of Bulgaria and the National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China and further added that based on that document development of active partnership between both countries’ tourism administrations is being promoted.
Also participating in the High-Level Debate within the framework of the 15th European Tourism Forum were Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of the Economy, Rasa Noreikiene, the State Secretary for Tourism at Portugal’s Ministry of the Economy, Ana Mendes Godinho, the Deputy State Secretary at Poland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism, David Lacek, the Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development of Greece’s Ministry of the Economy, Development, and Tourism, George Tsalas, etc.
