Ministry of Tourism launches new guidebook for pilgrimage tourism in Bulgaria

Minister Miroslav Borshosh initiates the creation of a working group to develop these routes

Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh took part in the first national conference dedicated to pilgrimage tourism in Bulgaria. In the presence of Anthony, Metropolitan of Western and Central Europe, representatives of the clergy, religious communities in the country, experts, local authorities, academia, and the tourism sector, a new edition of a guidebook dedicated to the most significant Christian routes in the country was presented.

The publication covers ten pilgrimage destinations, including spiritual and cultural shrines – monasteries, churches, and places of historical significance for the Christian faith in Bulgaria, including Sofia and the Sofia Holy Mountain, the Thracian Plain and the Rhodopes, the Rose Valley, Northwestern Bulgaria, etc. The guide draws attention to opportunities for pilgrimage and cultural and spiritual travel, combining historical information and tourist routes.

Minister Miroslav Borshosh emphasized that pilgrimage tourism in Bulgaria is developing at a steady rate of 5 to 10% per year and that it represents not only religious but also cultural travel, which meets the demand of modern tourists for meaningful experiences. "Bulgaria has the potential to establish itself as a leading destination for pilgrimage tourism because it combines deep spiritual traditions with a rich cultural heritage," the minister said. He added that new generations of tourists are looking for content, meaning, and a personal connection with history and faith, and that pilgrimage routes in Bulgaria offer just that—a journey to oneself through faith and culture. Therefore, Minister Miroslav Borshosh announced that the Ministry of Tourism will set up a working group with the participation of representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, traditional religious communities in Bulgaria, the academic community, local authorities, and the tourism sector, which will work to promote these routes both in the country and abroad.

The new guide, produced in collaboration with the media platform "24 Hours" and the publishing house "Trud," is part of the ministry's efforts to develop specialized and year-round forms of tourism and to highlight Bulgaria's unique role as a spiritual and cultural destination.