# Bulgarian tourism education initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-tourism-education-initiatives > Updated: 2026-10-26T12:19:43.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. In late September 2026, more than 10 higher education institutions in Bulgaria established a national association for tourism education in Varna. The organization aims to bridge the gap between academic training and the needs of the tourism industry through knowledge exchange, joint scientific projects, and increased mobility for students and faculty. Bulgarian Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov indicated a goal to expand this structure from a national level to a broader Balkan or European scale. Following this organizational development, educational efforts in Varna have focused on practical application. Students specializing in Tourism and Entertainment Business Management participated in visits to the Varna Tourist Information Center to study municipal operations, regional advertising, and visitor services. These initiatives, which include international students from Turkey and Ukraine, are part of ongoing efforts to link academic studies with professional practice in the sector. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-26: Tourism College students visit Varna Tourist Information Center Tourism students from the College of Tourism in Varna visited the city's Tourist Information Center to learn about destination management, digital promotion, and practical excursion guiding. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tourism-college-students-visit-varna-tourist-information-center ### 2026-09-26: Bulgarian universities form national tourism education association Over 10 Bulgarian universities have formed a national association to improve tourism education and align academic training with industry needs, with goals to expand into a European-wide organization. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-universities-form-national-tourism-education-association --- Cite as: Bulgarian tourism education initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-tourism-education-initiatives