site.btaMeetings Planned in January 2023 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa between Bulgarian, Israeli Business – Bulgarian Caretaker Tourism Minister Dimitrov

Meetings are planned to be held in January 2023 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa between Bulgarian and Israeli businesses, Bulgarian caretaker Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov told BTA on Thursday after meetings with local organizations in Tel Aviv. 

The idea uses an approach previously employed by Poland, with B2B meetings in several cities, Dimitrov said, adding that Bulgarian Ambassador in Israel Rumyana Bachvarova has agreed to assist. 

Dimitrov said that although it is yet not known who the regular minister in charge will be at that time, he hoped that they will accept the idea. "Organizing business meetings and participating more actively in forums contributes to increasing the number of visitors from Israel, judging by the Polish experience," Dimitrov said. The Minister added that the same approach will be employed in five other countries. 

Dimitrov said he had several meetings in educational institutions in Israel, one of which was in the College of Tourism in Ashkelon. He said work will be done under the Erasmus educational programme for exchange of teachers and students. "When academic personnel starts exchanges, it is proven that this benefits tourism as well," he said. 

Dimitrov further said that the number of Israeli visitors to Bulgaria is 12% short of reaching the pre-pandemic levels. "In good years Bulgaria has had 240,000 visitors from Israel. As things stand at the moment, we are on the brink of exceeding the 200,000 figure at the end of 2022, which is a good sign," he said.