Burgas. In the city of coastal tourism, where the economic heart beats to the rhythm of the sea waves, key figures from academia, business, and local authorities gathered today to discuss the future of the region's most important sector. A discussion forum on the topic "Tourism: Educated - Business - Local Authorities" was held at the College of Tourism at Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov," becoming an arena for in-depth analysis and a search for solutions to the most pressing problems.

The building of the university, whose facade and interior have been renovated after a large-scale repair, welcomed the participants with a sense of a new beginning. The official opening ceremony of the forum and the renovated space was attended in person by Minister of Education Krasimir Valchev, Mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov, University Rector Prof. Dr. Hristo Bozov, and College Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veselina Atanasova. The event brought together experts, lecturers, and representatives of the tourism business who shared their views on modern education in the field. Central to the debate were issues related to the training of quality personnel capable of meeting the dynamic needs of the tourism market.

Strong Link Between Education and Economy

In his address to the forum, the university's rector, Prof. Hristo Bozov, expressed his gratitude to the institutions supporting the college. He emphasized the vital cooperation between education, business, and local authorities. According to him, this partnership is the basis of success, as the personnel who graduate from the college are directly integrated into the industry and contribute to the development of tourism, which accounts for 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product. The rector also praised the teaching staff, led by Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veselina Atanasova, for their resourcefulness and perseverance. Despite the repair work that lasted almost a year, the educational process was not interrupted for even a single day.

Municipalities Come Alive in Classrooms

An innovative idea implemented in the college this year is the naming of classrooms after municipalities in the Burgas region. The only completed exhibition so far is in the hall dedicated to Malko Tarnovo, which has a small exhibition created on the initiative of the town's mayor. The rector called on the other municipalities to follow this example, creating a living link between academic life and the cultural and historical richness of the region.

Need for More Active Promotion and Innovation

The Mayor of Burgas, Dimitar Nikolov, emphasized the need for more effective promotion of education in the field of tourism. He expressed his readiness to propose to the Municipal Council that its leading committees hold meetings in the college's "Burgas" hall. This initiative aims to strengthen the link between the local administration and academia. The mayor posed the rhetorical question:

"We must ask ourselves if we are doing enough to promote good education in the region".
He assured those present that the mayors from the region will unite in their efforts to popularize the new specialties and increase enrollment at the college.

The Demographic Crisis and the Role of Tourism

The Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, expressed confidence that the progress of artificial intelligence will lead to an increased need for experiences and will ultimately stimulate tourism. At the same time, he did not hide his concern about the serious demographic problem the country is facing.

"Every year, more than 100,000 people retire, and only 60,000 replace them. This creates a serious shortage of personnel in all sectors, including tourism",
the minister said. Valchev, however, also noted a positive trend – the decreasing number of students dropping out of the educational system. As another priority of the Ministry of Education and Science, he pointed to the development of "educational tourism," which includes students' visits to cultural and historical sites.

The Path from an Institute to a Modern College

In her speech, the college's director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veselina Atanasova, recalled the rich history of the educational institution. She spoke about its path from its establishment as an institute of international tourism in 1967, the opening of the current building in 1978, to its transformation into a college in 1997. She emphasized that the introduction of three new specialties - "Tourism and Healthy Eating," "Tourism and Entrepreneurship," and "Hotel and Restaurant Management" - is a direct result of an in-depth study of the needs of the tourism business in the region. This clearly shows the college's commitment to offering education that is adequate and directly related to the needs of the labor market.