The 129th annual meeting of the European Committee of Associations of Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ECTAA) was opened in Sofia by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva.
The international forum, in which representatives of 25 national associations of tour operators from all over Europe participate, continues until tomorrow – October 25, after which the participants will have the opportunity to get acquainted with Bulgarian history and culture.
“Thanks to the variety of tourist activities that we offer all year round, Bulgaria has established itself as a preferred destination for European tourists. After 16 years we are honored to host the ECTAA meeting. Thank you for the trust and choosing our country to host this forum,” said Georgieva.
During the discussions, participants will discuss key topics including the mobility and accessibility of tourism services, the management of overtourism and its consequences, the amendments to the Package Travel Directive, as well as the management of risks and crises in the tourism industry. The President of ECTAA, Frank Oostdam, emphasized the importance of the topicality of the topics discussed: “I am confident that our talks will be extremely fruitful, and events on the European front, such as the appointment of the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport, emphasize the need to develop sustainable tourism.”
Deputy Minister Georgieva added that the participants will have the opportunity not only to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the tourism industry in Europe, but also to learn about the rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria, which makes it a competitive and successful tourist destination.
On the second day of the event, the Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev will deliver a keynote speech to the participants and close the forum. After the event, ECTAA representatives will visit Plovdiv – the oldest living city in Europe, where they will explore the Old Town and the Episcopal Basilica, enjoy a concert by the Plovdiv Opera and participate in the city’s wine festival, on the occasion of the International Day on Mavruda.
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