The 7th Annual Meeting of the National Board of Tourism Took Place in Sofia

The 7th Annual Meeting of the National Board of Tourism took place on 14 February in Sofia. Nadia Soultanova, Head of Investment and Business Development at Sofia Investment Agency participated in the discussion ‘Bulgaria – Digital and Shared Economics’ and presented the main principles of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Sofia.  

‘The opening of data will allow the development of many new products, and tourism is one of the sectors that can benefit a lot from new data-based solutions,’ commented Nadia Soultanova and added that the digitalization process should be based on suggestions and priorities assigned by the ecosystem itself. 

‘We look at digitalization as a broad process that includes not only the digitalization of services but also the whole urban environment as a creator of markets and а driving force of economic development. The principles in the Strategy will also be carried in the activities of the newly formed Digitalization, Innovations, and Economic Development department of Sofia Municipality, that was established at the beginning of this year’. 

The annual meeting was opened by the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova, and the Mayor of Sofia, Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova. Sofia Municipality is actively working on the development of a vision for Sofia. In accordance with the Strategy for Development of Sofia as a Tourist Destination 2017 – 2030, this year Sofia will start work on a new project for the creation of a product brand of the city, announced the Mayor of Sofia.

More news and data from the sector mentioned during the meeting: 

• The number of tourists who visited Sofia in 2019 increased by 3.5% compared to 2018
• The investments in tourism and the related service sector make up 37% of the direct foreign investments in the city. 
• The city is becoming more and more attractive for investors – three new luxury brand hotels are expected to open in Sofia. 
• The restoration of the mineral bath in Bankya is expected to be finalised this year, and there are preparations for the restoration of the mineral baths in the regions of Ovcha Kupel and Gorna Banya. These measures are an opportunity for the city to use the potential of Sofia’s mineral waters for year-round balneology and SPA tourism.
• The reconstruction of the central part of the city where most of the objects related to cultural tourism are located will continue in 2020. This includes the completion of the renovation projects for ‘Sveta Nedelya’ Square and the ‘Sveti Spas’ church.. 
• It’s expected that archaeologists will complete their work on the Neolithic settlement in Slatina on the outskirts of the city by the end of the year and that a new visitor center will be built there as well.