The chestnut alley in 5-th October Park became a unique gallery for an exhibition of panels dedicated to World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27. The exhibition will be available throughout the day and will then be placed in the foyer of the Municipal Administration.

“With this exhibition, we are kicking off the events dedicated to today’s holiday. It has gathered photos from countries that have hosted various thematic celebrations over the past 20 years,” said Milena Zheleva, Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora, during the presentation of the panels.

Zheleva recalled that the tourism industry has experienced difficult two years during the pandemic, but the current figures for overnight stays indicate optimistic data for both 2022 and the current year 2023. “There is an increase in overnight stays compared to 2019, which is significant. Step by step, we are moving towards the recognition of our city as a preferred destination. We are investing in facilities that attract tourists, such as the Zoo. We are working on improving infrastructure and others – cultural and sports facilities, because this way we stimulate the interest of people and businesses,” Zheleva added.

A special guest at the celebration in Stara Zagora was Radost Ivanova, Executive Director of the Tourist Region “Thracia”. “It is very important today to inspire people to have an interest in tourism as an experience. The exhibition shows the things that make people travel, have different experiences, making everyone’s life better, more interesting, and more fun. Stara Zagora Municipality is one of the most active members; we work hard to promote the city and its attractions worldwide,” Ivanova shared with the attendees. She also praised the hosts for their hospitality and the joint work with cultural institutions, which further contributes to the development of the sector. “Stara Zagora truly has something to show to the world,” Ivanova emphasized.

“Our idea today is to focus on World Tourism Day as part of our events calendar. We want to spark the interest of young people studying tourism, which is why we are organizing today’s events in collaboration with the Professional High School of Clothing and Food ‘Raina Knyaginya’,” added Margarita Krumova, Head of the Tourism and Youth Activities Department. “Tourism is not only an economic pillar but also a strong individual experience – it opens up horizons, changes perceptions, and creates friendships. Traveling can only enrich us,” Krumova shared with the attendees. She also presented this year’s theme for World Tourism Day – green investments. “This is the right time to focus on circular economies, tourism development, and environmental conservation. We need to pay attention to sustainability and resources,” she added.

Later on, the entirely new vision of the Tourist Information Center was presented. It is the result of joint efforts and Stara Zagora’s ambition to become an increasingly preferred tourism destination. Special emphasis was placed on new technologies – such as VR glasses and augmented reality for thematic walks through the ancient streets of the millennia-old city. The new brand “Stara Zagora for You” is also filled with content, as Milena Zheleva highlighted. During the presentation of the opportunities offered by the TIC, Zheleva emphasized that the most visited tourism destination in Stara Zagora at the moment is the Zoo, followed by the objects of the Regional Historical Museum. She thanked for the good collaboration of all cultural institutions in the municipality – community centers, libraries, and the Regional Historical Museum. The Deputy Mayor also congratulated Iva Zlateva, who is behind the modern and functional atmosphere in the TIC, incorporating requirements for a tourist information center and the youthful spirit of Stara Zagora into the architectural solutions.

Guests of the event included Diana Atanasova – Head of the Culture Department and Veni Petrova – Chairperson of the Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs in Stara Zagora, as well as representatives of the media.

A meeting-discussion was held in the hall of the Regional Historical Museum with students from 11th and 12th grades and their teachers from the Professional High School of Clothing and Food “Raina Knyaginya” on topics such as “Green Innovations in Tourism,” “Effective Resource Management,” “Digitization in Tourism,” and “Women in Business,” presented by various guest lecturers and specialists in the field.

Author: Krasimira Kaneva