Bulgarian universities form national tourism education association

More than 10 higher education institutions in Bulgaria have established a national association dedicated to tourism education. The organization was founded in Varna on September 27, coinciding with World Tourism Day.

The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between universities, the tourism business, and government institutions. By fostering knowledge exchange, student and faculty mobility, and joint scientific projects, the association seeks to align academic training more closely with the actual needs of the tourism sector.

Bulgarian Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov expressed ambition for the association to expand its scope from a national level to a Balkan, European, and potentially global structure. The initiative has received support from UN Tourism, European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

In addition to the association's founding, the event in Varna included announcements regarding the creation of a National Observatory and the commencement of the International Tourism Alley.