In the period 13-15 October 2016 in “St. st. Constantine and Helena” resort, “Estreya Residence” hotel was held the Ninth Black Sea Tourism Forum – Varna 2016. The event of great importance for the tourism sector was under the motto “Bulgaria – a tourist destination for four seasons”. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Municipality of Varna and Varna Chamber of Tourism.
An impressive figure made entirely of ice specifically for the event The forum was opened by Ms. Nikolina Angelkova, the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria that not once in her words emphasized the need to strengthen the partnership between the state, local authorities, NGO sector, local population and foreign guests in order to make Bulgaria a tourist destination for four seasons.
Minister Angelkova during her speech at the openingof the Ninth Black Sea Tourism Forum
Among those attending the event were Mr. Ivan Portnih, Mayor of Varna Municipality, Mr. Stoyan Pasev, Governor of District Administration of Varna, Mr. Zhelyu Dushev, Chairman of Varna Chamber of Tourism, prof. Marin Neshkov, Honorary Chairman of Varna Chamber of Tourism and other experts and specialists in the field of tourism coming both from the country and abroad.
From left to right: Mr. Stoyan Pasev, Governor of District Administration of Varna,Mr. Ivan Portnih, Mayor of Varna Municipality, Mr. Zhelyu Dushev, Chairman of
Varna Chamber of Tourism, Ms. Nikolina Angelkova, Minister of Tourism,
prof. Marin Neshkov, Honorary Chairman of the Varna Chamber of Tourism and
Mr. Todor Balabanov, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Varna
The held forum is with national and international importance, as it was attended by representatives of the embassies of South Africa, Argentina and other embassies in Bulgaria, over eighteen municipalities, more than ten universities from the country and abroad, tour operators, travel agencies, hoteliers, representatives of the NGO sector. Sozopol Foundation, as an active international non-governmental organisation, was represented at the event by Ms. Nevena Arnautska, Member of the Board of the organisation and Ph.D. student at the Department of “Economics of Tourism” at the University of National and World Economy, Sofia.
The Foundation, as an official partner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), follows the priorities of the international organisation, among which a major one is the engagement of young people. Ms. Arnautska, as a representative of the younger generation in Bulgaria, worked very actively for the successful realization of projects for conservation of natural and cultural heritage in order to achieve sustainable development through the development of cultural tourism, as well as positioning the country as a destination for four seasons. Ms. Arnautska prepared a report on topic “Importance of Cultural Heritage for turning Bulgaria into a tourist destination for four seasons”, which was published in the Medley created towards Ninth Black Sea Tourism Forum – Varna 2016.
Cover page of the printed medleytowards the Ninth Black Sea Tourism Forum – Varna 2016