Bulgarian-Russian Forum in the field of tourism with the participation of the Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and Russia

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev opened a Bulgarian-Russian Business Forum in the field of tourism. The forum was attended by the Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova, the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin, mayors, and representatives of the Bulgarian and Russian tourism business. The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov was among the official participants and gave a presentation in the first panel of the forum.

Dmitry Medvedev expressed satisfaction with the good level of development of the bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism. About 500 000 Russian tourists visit Bulgaria, while the number of Bulgarian citizens travelling to Russia has increased by 50% in the past 5 years.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov also addressed the participants in the forum and expressed the support of the state for the tourism sector, despite the difficulties in the international relations. According to him, there is potential for the development of cultural, historical, religious, hunting, SPA and golf tourism.

Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova confirmed that tourism is a catalyst of the economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia, as well as of the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries. Bulgaria is a favorite vacation destination for Russian tourists. In 2018, tourism revenues accounted for 13% of the country’s GDP. 31% was the growth of international tourists in Bulgaria, and the revenues from international tourism increased by 34%.

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov presented the point of view of the business on the priorities in the sector. He underlined BCCI’s excellent cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation both within international organizations, such as the ICC World Chambers Federation, the Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry - EUROCHAMBRES, the BSEC Business Council, and on bilateral grounds, with the support of the Bulgarian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He mentioned some of the numerous joint business events and initiatives organized, and the specific recommendations of the business for the development of tourism and economic cooperation in general.

These include:

• Compliance with the rules of free trade and reduction of the restrictions for businesses;
• Facilitating the procedures for obtaining entry visas for businesses, citizens and tourists;
• Multiplying the efforts of the chambers of commerce and industry and the governments to reduce the administrative burden on businesses;
• Diversification of contacts with the regions;
• Special attention from the state authorities and the non-governmental organizations to facilitate the use and management of holiday properties of Russian tourists in Bulgaria.

Tsvetan Simeonov said that the expansion of exports from Bulgaria is the main task for the business in order to achieve more balanced bilateral trade. The President of BCCI added that attracting new investments from Russia in the Bulgarian economy, especially in the manufacturing sector, can also contribute to this goal.

More than 300 representatives of the public institutions, the non-governmental organizations and the business, including 100 representatives of the Bulgarian and Russian tourism sectors, and members of BCCI took part in the forum.