site.btaGovernment, Winemakers Pool Efforts to Develop Wine Tourism in Bulgaria

A working group of experts from the ministries of Tourism and of Agriculture, and winemakers will map out measures to develop wine tourism in Bulgaria. That transpired at a round table on the challenges to the development of wine tourism in Bulgaria, which was held by the Tourism Ministry here on Tuesday.

Tourism Minister Hristo Prodanov pointed out that this is the first meeting on the matter with such broad participation.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Momchil Nekov said that wine tourism must be protected as part of the intangible cultural heritage so that wine routes can be added to the brown tourist signs.

He also said that 130 Bulgarian wineries have conditions for wine tourism and that eight wine regions with protected geographic indication will likely be established.

The participants in the meeting discussed good practices, problems and trends in wine tourism.

Among the participants were also Ilin Dimitrov, chair of the parliamentary tourism committee, Deputy Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva, experts, officials of the Bulgarian Association of Independent Vine Growers and Wine Makers, the Bulgarian Association of Wine Professionals, the National Chamber of Vine and Wine, and the Institute of Viticulture.