Tourism Ministers of Bulgaria, Israel Sign Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement in Tourism

Jerusalem, 23 January, 2023 (TPS) -- SOFIA 23.01.2023 (BTA)
Tourism ministers Ilin Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Haim Katz of Israel Monday signed here an intergovernmental cooperation agreement in the field of tourism. The document also envisages partnership in education, because providing a quality tourism service requires quality education, Dimitrov said.

Minister Katz is on a two-day working visit to Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian Tourism Ministry said in a press release that the cooperation agreement envisages exchange of expert knowledge and experience related to the organization, management, and functioning of special forms of tourism, such as seasonal, SPA and wellness, adventure, cultural and historical, and religious tourism. Bulgaria and Israel will deepen their cooperation within the UN World Tourism Organization and other international organizations. Under the agreement, the two countries will promote cooperation in the exchange of good practices for attracting investment in tourism.

Dimitrov said Israel is among the top markets for Bulgaria. He quoted data showing that last year Bulgaria was visited by nearly as many Israeli tourists as in the pre-pandemic 2019, when they numbered 200,000. According to Katz, this number can easily be exceeded. Bulgaria is among Israelis’ preferred tourism destinations, he added. In the Bulgarian Tourism Minister’s words, he and his Israeli counterpart hope that the tourists will be three-fold more in ten years, for which the business community will help.

This is Minister Katz’ first visit abroad after his appointment as well as the first visit of an Israeli minister since the establishment of Bulgaria’s Tourism Ministry, Dimitrov specified, describing these facts as signifying the development of the bilateral relations in tourism.

Katz said that his first trip abroad as Minister of Tourism is in Bulgaria, because he respects the Bulgarian people for the support and help “in the most difficult part of our history”. He recalled that this year the countries will be marking the 80th anniversary of the salvation of Bulgarian Jews. He promised support for increasing the visits of Israeli nationals to Bulgaria.

At the end of March, Bulgarian tourism companies are expected to visit Israel as part of a delegation headed by the Tourism Minister. They will hold bilateral B2B meetings, Dimitrov said.

The two ministers exchanged gifts with a focus on their countries’ historical heritage.

The Tourism Ministry reported that after the signing ceremony, the two ministers and their delegations held talks with representatives of the Bulgarian tourism business. Special emphasis was put on the options for better transport connectivity, as well as for improving the effectiveness of advertisement and investment opportunities in tourism.

In mid-February, the Tourism Ministry and Bulgarian tourism companies will take part in the International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) in Tel Aviv, the Ministry also reported.

On Tuesday, Minister Katz is scheduled to visit Bansko to get acquainted with the recreation and winter holiday conditions the mountain resort offers.