At an official ceremony in front of the Gates of the Old City of Nessebar, President Rumen Radev, Minister of Tourism Yevtim Miloshev and the host – the mayor of Nessebar Municipality Nikolay Dimitrov gave an official start to the summer tourist season. For the first time, the ceremony to welcome Summer 2024 was held with the participation of the head of state.
This is specified by the Ministry of Tourism.
The event took place under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and his wife Desislava Radeva, in the presence of ministers, mayors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the tourist business, citizens and guests of the seaside city.
Among the official guests of the event were the Ministers of Internal Affairs Kalin Stoyanov, Ministers of Regional Development and Public Works Violeta Koritarova, Ministers of Health Dr. Galya Kondeva, Ministers of Agriculture Georgi Takhov and Ministers of Youth and Sports Georgi Glushkov, as well as ambassadors and representatives of missions from over 20 countries, the regional governor of Burgas Prof. Maria Neikova, as well as former ministers of tourism.
The ceremony began with the performance of the magnetic Bulgarian kabagaids and the ritual “Mother Bulgaria” in front of the gates of the Old City. The statesmen were welcomed according to an old Bulgarian custom with bread and the symbol of our country – the Bulgarian rose.
„We, the Bulgarians, have always believed that we live on a piece of land that is a heavenly place,” said Minister Miloshev and recalled the ancient parable.
„We live at a crossroads – geographical, between Europe and Asia, cultural and spiritual. And that is what makes us recognizable and authentic. This has made us hospitable and philanthropic over the centuries – we Bulgarians are an ancient civilization of emotional, artistic and tolerant people. And in today's times of complex geopolitical relations and more and more global crises, these qualities are becoming more and more scarce and, therefore, more and more valuable, Minister Miloshev said.
I am convinced that several generations of modern Europeans keep the memory of our “Sunny Beach”, our sunny sandy beaches and their exciting Bulgarian summer, Minister Miloshev also said, addressing the representatives of the diplomatic corps and the guests of Nessebar and on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
President Rumen Radev emphasized the importance of Nessebar as part of UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. The mayor and his team have done a great job here, I hope more Bulgarian municipalities look like this, said the head of state.
„Nessebar represents all those world-famous features of Bulgaria – here the millennial history of our lands coexists with the comfort of modern tourist services; the magnificence of our nature with the famous hospitality of the local people”, the president said and thanked for the organization of the event – to the Secretary for Culture, Education and Tourism at the Presidential Institution and former Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov for the initiative, to the Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev for his support and to the host and “motor of the event” – the mayor of Nessebar Nikolay Dimitrov.
In front of the journalists, Minister Miloshev reminded that the office has a clearly defined time horizon and its task is to ensure the conduct of fair elections, as well as the smooth running of the summer tourist season. He expressed his optimism for a good and stable season in the upcoming Summer 2024 with a clear commitment of the institutions to ensure good control and calm work for the business, and the most important entity in the tourism product – the tourist leaves happy and with only positive and beautiful emotions.
„We will have done our job – and as a country and people, and as a sector, if everyone leaves with the memory of their happy Bulgarian summer. I dream of Bulgaria being associated with sun and beauty, ancient civilization and rich culture; with hospitality, with authentic Bulgarian products and its unique nature. And above all, it should be associated with warm and smiling people, ready to help”, Minister Miloshev also emphasized.
After a short tour of the cobbled streets of iconic landmarks, the guests attended a concert of local folk ensembles on Messambria Square in the Old Town of Nessebar.