There is still a lot of work ahead of us, but here is what has been accomplished so far.

I present to you the report for the first six months since the beginning of the mandate. My sincere thanks go to the dedicated team of the Ministry of Tourism for their hard work. I would also like to thank the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, state institutions, our ambassadors and attachés, as well as the regional governors, mayors, and the non-governmental sector for their excellent cooperation.

We changed the name of Bulgaria’s national tourism portal to VisitBulgaria.com – the digital face of Bulgarian tourism. We transitioned from the previous domain BulgariaTravel.org to VisitBulgaria.com as the first key step in the rebranding and digital transformation of how our country is presented to the world.
We also consolidated proposals for amendments to the regulatory framework, aimed at resolving access issues to the mountains, particularly Vitosha. The discussed proposals have been submitted to the National Assembly to initiate a legislative process.
We took over the management of one of the most picturesque natural landmarks along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast – Bolata Beach.
We recorded the strongest winter season for Bulgaria in 2025, ranking among the leading EU countries in overnight stay growth for the first quarter of 2025, according to Eurostat data.
We organized and coordinated the largest joint inspection to date of commercial establishments in the resorts Sunny Beach and Golden Sands, together with the Commission for Consumer Protection, the National Revenue Agency, the Regional Health Inspectorate, and the Economic Police.
After acting upon video footage showing violations of beach access regulations, we immediately took action in cooperation with the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior – Varna. An inspection at Pasha Dere Beach found two motor vehicles that had entered the sand zone. The offenders were identified and sanctioned.
Together with the Commission for Consumer Protection, the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration”, and the Economic Police – Yambol, we carried out joint inspections at the Lesovo–Hamzabeyli and Kapitan Andreevo–Kapıkule border checkpoints. Our goal was to identify possible unfair practices in organized tourist transport and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Together with MEP Andrey Novakov, we organized a national conference titled “The Future of Tourism in Bulgaria and Europe – Image, Innovation, Development.” The event featured the participation of MEP Nikolina Brnjac, member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism in the European Parliament, as well as representatives of European institutions, national and local authorities, the tourism sector, and the expert community. The conference was part of the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to strengthen strategic dialogue with European partners and to develop a long-term vision for positioning Bulgaria as a preferred tourist destination.
At our invitation, Professor Bettany Hughes presented the film “The Treasures of Bulgaria” during the 47th UNESCO Session in Paris.
We officially signed the agreement confirming Bulgaria’s hosting of the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), which will take place in Plovdiv. The event will bring together delegations from around the world and leading international experts in wine tourism, reaffirming Bulgaria’s position as a preferred tourist destination on the global map.
We took part in the election of Shaikha Al Nowais, the first woman to serve as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism).
A working meeting was held in Zagreb with Minister Tonči Glavina, during which we discussed the effects of the adoption of the euro on tourism – one of the most important sectors for the economies of both countries.
We also strengthened the traditionally good and friendly relations between Bulgaria and Poland in the field of tourism during a bilateral meeting with Mr. Piotr Borys, State Secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland.
We played a key role in the discussion on a new sustainable strategy for European tourism during the informal meeting of tourism ministers held in Warsaw in June 2025. At the forum, we advocated for the establishment of a dedicated EU budget for the development of the tourism sector.
We held a meeting with the Ambassador of France, H.E. Joël Meyer, during which we discussed opportunities for deepening tourism relations between the two countries. The focus was placed on positioning Bulgaria as an attractive destination for wine and gastronomic tourism on the French market, and steps will be taken to promote the adaptation of information about Bulgarian tourist sites for a Francophone audience.
We met with H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Al Jaber , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria, where we focused on developing bilateral cooperation in tourism as a strategic sector, through enhancing digital promotion targeting the UAE market.
With H.E. Mr. Nathaniel Copsey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Bulgaria, we discussed ways to present new opportunities for British tourists, as the UK remains one of Bulgaria’s priority inbound markets.
We also held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Miguel Alonso Berrio, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Bulgaria, to explore opportunities for expanding cultural and urban tourism, which are key motivations for Spanish visitors to Bulgaria.
We participated in the 10th anniversary edition of the Chiprovtsi Carpet Festival, as part of our efforts to promote Bulgaria’s intangible cultural heritage.
We launched a model for marketing cooperation with local authorities, joining forces with the Municipality of Vratsa to develop a sustainable partnership framework between the state and local government aimed at promoting tourism across Bulgaria’s regions.
We joined efforts with the Municipality of Sapareva Banya and the tourism industry to develop and promote the region as a year-round destination, discussing opportunities for sustainable growth and the implementation of key infrastructure projects that will improve tourism and business conditions in the area.
We also discussed specific opportunities for the development of cultural and festival tourism based on Chirpan’s rich historical and cultural heritage during a meeting with the city’s mayor, Ivaylo Kracholov. The conversation focused on investments in tourism infrastructure, camping tourism, and the promotion of Chirpan’s cultural heritage.
A new cultural and tourist information center was opened in Belene, featuring a special exhibition hall dedicated to the city’s historical and cultural legacy.
We organized a meeting with local authorities and tourism representatives in Velingrad, attended by Mayor Dr. Kostadin Koev, Pazardzhik Regional Governor Valentina Kaitazova, and Member of Parliament Dafinka Semerdzhieva (GERB – UDF). Representatives of associations and the local business community expressed readiness for closer cooperation with the state, emphasizing the importance of professional training practices in the tourism sector, including stronger partnerships with tourism schools.
We supported the Municipality of Hisarya in its process of joining the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA). During a meeting at the Ministry of Tourism, we discussed with Hans Hornig and Hisarya Mayor Mrs. Iva Valcheva the opportunities and requirements for accession to the association.
We participated in the Fourth National Conference on Health Tourism, organized by the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism in Burgas. The conference brought together representatives of institutions, business, and academia around a shared vision for the sustainable development of health tourism in Bulgaria.
We took part in the National Discussion “Access to the Labour Market for Workers from Third Countries – Challenges and Solutions”, organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Tourism Board.
We organized the first-ever National Conference dedicated to Cultural and Festival Tourism in Bulgaria. The event was part of the program of the 33rd edition of the International Theatre Festival “Varna Summer”.
We held an informational meeting on visa procedures aimed at expanding tourism exchange between Bulgaria and the United States.
We initiated the creation of a working group for the development of pilgrimage tourism in Bulgaria and participated in the first national conference dedicated to this theme. In the presence of clergy, experts, and local government representatives, we presented the new guidebook featuring Bulgaria’s most significant Christian routes.
We continue to work with the National Statistical Institute (NSI) to update and synchronize the Unified Tourism Information System with NSI data, aiming to modernize and digitalize the processes of data collection and analysis in the tourism sector.
We launched the first International Tourism Poster Competition of Bulgaria. In partnership with the International Triennial of Stage Poster - Sofia, we announced this unique initiative aimed at discovering a new visual identity for Bulgaria as an attractive, year-round tourist destination.
We opened the 2025 summer tourism season with inspiring events held both by the sea – in Pomorie – and in the mountains – in Chepelare.
With the support of the LUNAR Festival in Sofia, we made a clear statement about our commitment to developing urban tourism.
We also launched the Francofolies de Bulgarie 2025 Festival in Plovdiv – a partnership that plays a key role in advancing cultural and festival tourism in Bulgaria.
We celebrated May 24. As part of the program, we held children’s book readings, organized an educational quiz titled “I Love Bulgaria” with prizes from the “Knigovishte” platform, and awarded certificates of recognition from the Ministry of Tourism.
We continued our consistent policy of promoting Bulgaria as a preferred destination for Polish tourists through active participation in leading tourism forums in Poland. Bulgaria was presented at two key events – the General Assembly of the Polish Chamber of Tourism in Warsaw and the Market Tour Tourism Fair in Szczecin.
We also showcased Bulgaria at the Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai, featuring a modern national stand located in the heart of the exhibition.
We presented the future horizons of Bulgarian tourism at the World Tourism Forum 2025. Bulgaria was among the leading countries in the ministerial panel, together with the Czech Republic, the UAE, France, Israel, and Colombia.
We reported Bulgaria’s position among the Top 10 most desired destinations for organized holidays among German tourists for summer 2025. We participated in the annual conference of RITA AG – the German association of tour operators and travel agencies.
In May, we presented Bulgaria at key international tourism exhibitions. We organized the country’s participation with promotional stands at two of the leading global tourism forums – IMEX in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
We showcased Bulgaria’s tourism potential to leading representatives of the German-speaking market. Over 200 tour operators, airlines, and media from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland took part in the second edition of the promotional forum “Erlebe Bulgarien.”
We participated in and supported the Asian Festival in Sofia – a bridge between cultures and an opportunity to develop tourism to and from Bulgaria. Through our active presence, we strengthened partnerships and encouraged tourism exchange between Bulgaria and Asian countries.
We also focused the attention of the prestigious Turkish newspaper Milliyet on Bulgaria’s Southern Black Sea coast. As a result of the targeted campaign by the Ministry of Tourism and the National Tourist Office in Istanbul, Bulgaria was featured as the only foreign destination in the newspaper’s summer edition, promoting the region as a preferred destination for SPA, cultural, and seaside tourism among Turkish travelers.

You can find our reports for the first 50 and 100 days at the following here links here: