The future of the industry is being discussed at a meeting of European tourism leaders. The 68th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Europe, which took place from May 31 to June 2 in Sofia, Bulgaria, evaluated the state of tourism in the region at the time while also emphasising the critical role that employment, education, and investment play in ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Leading the High-Level Political Support for Tourism is Bulgaria
Prior to the conference, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with President Rumen Radev, Prime Minister Galab Donev, and Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov to discuss common goals and potential areas of collaboration.
The new UNWTO numbers, which show that Bulgaria is among the European destinations with the fastest recovery, were welcomed by the prime minister. International arrivals in the first quarter of 2020 were 27% higher than in 2019.
President Radev presented the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius, 1st Class and 2nd Class, to UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili and Director for Europe Alessandra Priante in a special ceremony held in the Coat of Arms Hall as a token of appreciation for their leadership.
The two parties agreed upon the significance of tourism in promoting economic growth and enhancing understanding and peace.
The UNWTO team applauded the Bulgarian government’s efforts to diversify the country’s tourist industry, with an emphasis on developing new industries including wellness, health, and gastronomic tourism and assisting rural communities.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “European tourism is recovering strongly and on track to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. This is exactly the time to step up our efforts to transform our sector, with a skilled workforce and proper investments vital for making it more resilient, sustainable and inclusive.”
