Young tourism professionals demonstrate exceptional skills in national competitions

The finals of the National Competitions in Tourism Professions were held in the resort complex Borovets, hosted by the Professional High School of Tourism in Samokov. 123 students, representing 45 high schools from 42 different cities in the country, participated in the competition. They competed in six categories: "Best Young Bartender", "Best Young Chef", "Best Young Waiter", "Best Young Hotelier", "Best Young Animator" and "Best Young Baker-Pastry Chef".

Deputy Minister of Education and Science Tanya Mihaylova pointed out that all participants have gone through a serious selection process and are highly motivated to win, as each of them represents between 300 and 600 students from their school. Chef Radi Stambolov, chairman of the jury in the "Best Young Baker-Pastry Chef" category, emphasized that schools in smaller towns are performing better and better in the training of future bakers and pastry chefs.

The winners in the individual categories were: Dimitar Petrov from the Sofia Professional High School of Tourism (SPGT) - for best young chef, Monika Nikolaeva from SPGT - for best young bartender, Gabriela Sivkova from the Professional High School of Tourism in Varna - for best young waiter, Monika Evlogieva, also from Varna - for best young hotelier, and the team of the Professional High School of Tourism in Varna won the competition for best young animator. Katerina Dikanska was declared the best young baker-pastry chef.

Borislava Hadzhiyska, director of the host school PGT-Samokov, emphasized that vocational education in the country is developing in the right direction, with more and more schools investing in the renovation of kitchens, bar lounges and other practical bases to provide students with real training conditions.