[1]Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh participated in the forum “Bridging Destinations: Italy – The Balkans”, held in Rome at the initiative of Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè. The event gathered high-level representatives from Balkan and Southern European countries to discuss prospects for closer regional cooperation and joint efforts toward the sustainable development of tourism in Southeast Europe.
In his address, Minister Borshosh stated that Bulgaria has consistently advocated for a common tourism vision for the region since 2018, when the topic was first placed on the agenda during Bulgaria’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. “In recent years, Bulgaria has been steadily building on regional cooperation through initiatives such as “Destination Balkans” and its active participation in key international formats. Despite the sector’s solid recovery after the pandemic, the Balkans still suffer from a lack of coordinated tourism promotion, limited connectivity, and competition among countries that prevents us from realizing our full shared potential. The forum in Rome is an opportunity to change this — through specific joint actions and long-term partnerships,” emphasized Minister Miroslav Borshosh.
Bulgaria proposed the establishment of a regional coordination body composed of tourism administrations from the Balkan countries. The body’s primary goal would be to develop a joint tourism strategy with clear priorities, reflected in short- and mid-term action plans. Among the main focus areas for building a common tourism identity, Minister Borshosh highlighted the cultural routes linking UNESCO World Heritage sites in the region; the nature and eco-tourism across shared protected areas; gastronomic and wine events; as well as developing joint maritime routes in the Black and Adriatic Sea basins.
The forum was opened by Minister Daniela Santanchè, who emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among destinations through shared solutions, digital tools, and joint tourism products. During the discussions, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani underlined that the development of tourism in the Balkans is a strategic priority for the European Union. He highlighted the importance of cross-border infrastructure and transport corridors, including Corridor No. 8 and connections between Greece and Northern Italy, as tools for economic integration and cultural exchange.
Minister Borshosh announced that on 6–7 October 2025, Bulgaria will host the second session of the UN Tourism Working Group for Southeast European countries. The event will take place in Plovdiv within the framework of the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism and will form part of Bulgaria’s Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) for 2025–2026.
This commitment further underscores Bulgaria’s active role in promoting sustainable regional development and strengthening the Balkans’ tourism competitiveness.
“The Balkans are not a puzzle of small markets. We are a united, dynamic destination with rich cultural heritage and enormous potential. The time has come to speak with one voice — with a shared vision and strong identity,” concluded Minister Borshosh.