The outgoing Council of Ministers approved a draft decision to appoint Todor Stoyanov as Bulgaria's ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative of the country to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to the UN, the cabinet's press service announced.
Bulgaria has been a member of the World Tourism Organization to the UN since 1976 and has a long history of cooperation with the organization. During the 68th session of the Regional Commission “Europe” in 2023 in Sofia, Bulgaria was elected as a member of the Executive Council with a mandate from 2023-2027.
Bulgaria supports the UNWTO's vision for the development of competitive and sustainable tourism policies and tourism as a factor for economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability. The organization is a key factor in supporting the sustainability of the sector in crises, the development of tourism as a driver of sustainable economic growth in support of local communities, as well as for the preservation and protection of cultural and historical heritage.
In June 2023, the caretaker Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization to the UN Zurab Pololikashvili officially opened the 68th session of the Regional Commission “Europe” of the UNWTO. The session was held in Sofia, with the participation of ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of the tourism sector from different countries, as well as representatives of delegations from 40 countries.