“Your sector is among the key ones, and it is also one with the most awareness about the ecology and sustainable development,” the Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova addressed the participants in the discussion on the topic “Sustainable tourism in practice”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Tourism within the framework of the 39th edition of the International Tourist Exhibition “Vacation & SPA” at Inter Expo Center - Sofia.

Before representatives of the tourism industry, Minister Karamfilova presented the policies and projects in the environmental field, which are related to the introduction of sustainable practices in tourism. She emphasized the need to achieve the desired effect with joint efforts, whereby the users of the tourist service are satisfied not only with the service itself, but also with the fact that it is offered in a sustainable environment, with appropriate infrastructure and above all that we are a country which has managed to utilize its natural advantages but also to preserve them.

Natural capital is the basis for the development of sustainable tourism, while its preservation and valorization is important, emphasized Minister Karamfilova. According to her, finding working solutions for ecosystem services in the tourism sector will be the key factor that will accelerate the entire process of integrating the value of ecosystem services at the business level. She presented a project implemented by the MOEW on the valuation and integration of ecosystem services, which was financed under the European Economic Area, and the target sector for it was tourism. The goal of the project is to achieve a balance between different interests and to take the value of the ecosystem not as a given, but as capital to be used wisely.

There are best practices for transitioning to a circular economy, which the tourism business has applied, said the Minister, linking the development of sustainable models in the tourism sector with the construction of the country’s ecological infrastructure. She noted that there are significant investments in waste management, in the water and sanitation sector and integrated management, and pointed out that these also benefit tourism, because no one wants to go to a place littered with waste, without water infrastructure and safe drinking water. With consistent actions, both sustainable environmental protection and sustainable development of the sector can be achieved, she highlighted.

Minister Karamfilova admitted that the tourist business is perhaps the only one that does not accept the requirements for environmental compatibility as an obstacle, but fulfills them with conviction that they represent an opportunity for the development of tourist services in accordance with the new requirements of the environmental legislation. She reminded that our country has one of the most developed “Natura 2000” networks and noted that investments in the sector must be in line with the requirements for protected areas and territories, to preserve biodiversity.

The task for the tourism business is to reduce energy intensity and resource dependence in order to cope with climate change vulnerabilities and to meet the socio-economic and environmental challenges it faces due to the increasing pressure on natural resources, the Minister said.

Minister Karamfilova also reminded that at the Climate Change Conference held in Egypt in November 2022, Bulgaria presented its candidacy for hosting the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change (COP 29), which is to take place at the end of 2024. Bulgaria can show off with innovative practices, and green tourist infrastructure is an important criterion when a country applies to host the COP, noted Rositsa Karamfilova.

The Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov pointed out in turn that the possible hosting of COP29 is a challenge, but it will put Bulgaria on the map because thousands of delegates will arrive in Bulgaria from all over the world. The tourism sector will be the main partner, but also the main beneficiary, if Bulgaria is to host the COP29, the two ministers agreed.