[1]The Minister of Tourism, Miroslav Borshosh, held a meeting with the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (AmCham), Ivan Mihaylov. The main focus of the discussion was on strengthening the partnership in the field of tourism exchange between Bulgaria and the United States, including the possibility of restoring the direct air route between Sofia and New York.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the potential benefits of direct flights between Bulgaria and the U.S. According to preliminary analyses, restoring the route could lead to over a 350% increase in passenger traffic between the two cities, amounting to up to 85,000 passengers annually on this route. Statistical data show that 87% of travelers between Sofia and New York fly exclusively between these two cities, which clearly demonstrates the need for a direct connection.
During the meeting, Minister Miroslav Borshosh highlighted the progress made so far by the government, emphasizing that restoring the direct flight connection with the United States would unlock the potential of this key target market for Bulgaria, creating additional opportunities to attract American tourists and investors.
The Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, Ivan Mihaylov, on his part, underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States at the state level and reaffirmed AmCham’s commitment to promoting the investment climate and economic development in Bulgaria.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties expressed their commitment to work in close cooperation toward realizing the initiative to restore direct flights, which is of strategic importance, as it would facilitate connections between two distant markets and thus enhance the development of bilateral tourism, business, and cultural exchange between the two countries.