Burgas - host of the National Conference on Health Tourism, uniting key experts and institutions

On May 20, 2025, the emblematic Primoretz Grand Hotel and Spa in Burgas was the host of the Fourth National Conference on Health Tourism, organized by the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Burgas and with the support of the Burgas State University and the European Spa Association. The aim of the forum was to discuss at a national level and with an expert panel the important steps that Bulgaria needs to take to position itself as a competitive European destination for health tourism, with a focus on medical tourism.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, opened the event by sharing current statistical data on the development of health tourism in the country. The Chairman of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism and Vice-President of the European Spa Association, Dr. Siyka Katsarova, emphasized that the Minister of Tourism, Miroslav Borshosh, has formed an inter-institutional working group to develop a plan for the development of medical tourism.

During the conference, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism and the Burgas State University, establishing a framework for joint work in the field of human resources, training and project activities. The Rector of the University, Prof. Dr. Hristo Bozov, assured that students are already being trained in the specialty "Health Tourism".

The conference program also included other leading experts such as Prof. Kosta Kostov, head of the InSpiro Foundation, health economist Arkadi Sharkov, the Director of OP "Tourism" at the Municipality of Burgas - Dr. Radovesta Stewart, international expert Ivana Kolar, Dr. Chenko Chalyakov from the Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and others.

Assoc. Prof. Svetla Shopova from the host Primoretz Grand Hotel and Spa thanked the participants for the fruitful discussion and expressed her belief that joint efforts will lead to the successful positioning of Bulgaria as a desired destination for health tourism.

The Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism expressed its gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Burgas and all participants, confirming the conference as a leading platform for experts, investors and visionaries in the promising direction of Bulgarian tourism.