The Chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Travel Agencies (BATA), Odysseus Spasov, and his company, Partner Travel Ltd., were officially and personally invited to participate in an international initiative aimed at strengthening tourism relations between Bulgaria and Türkiye.
From 24 to 27 October 2026, as part of a joint initiative coordinated by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and the Thrace Development Agency, a group of tour operators from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bulgaria took part in a programme showcasing the tourism potential of Türkiye’s Thrace region.
The programme covered the Turkish provinces of Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ, with a focus on cultural, gastronomic and nature tourism, the presentation of local tourism products, and the development of new opportunities for international cooperation.
The highlight of the initiative was a business-to-business (B2B) meeting held in the Çorlu area of Tekirdağ. The event brought together seven tour operators from Balkan countries and approximately 80 representatives of the local tourism industry, including hoteliers, restaurateurs, investors and other tourism stakeholders.
During the event, Odysseus Spasov held discussions with representatives of the institutions organising the initiative, as well as with professionals from the tourism sector. The meetings focused on establishing new contacts, exchanging practical experience and exploring concrete opportunities to develop tourism exchanges between Bulgaria and Türkiye.
The official programme was attended by Tekirdağ Governor Recep Soytürk, Çorlu District Governor Niyazi Erten, Secretary-General of the Thrace Development Agency Mahmut Şahin, representatives of regional tourism institutions, and Murat Başer, a member of the TGA Board of Directors.
In his address, Governor Soytürk emphasised the importance of tourism relations with Balkan countries and expressed his desire to welcome more visitors from neighbouring markets. Particular attention was given to health tourism. It was stated that 11,500 people had visited the province to receive healthcare services.
The discussions aimed to identify opportunities for expanding tourism programmes, establishing sustainable partnerships and promoting tourism products more effectively in Bulgaria and other Balkan markets.
The forthcoming winter tourism season in Bulgaria was also discussed during the meetings. Turkish partners expressed interest in opportunities for Turkish citizens and their families to visit Bulgaria, including trips to winter resorts, spa and wellness destinations, wine tourism destinations, cultural attractions and other specialised tourism products.
Bulgaria offers a diverse range of tourism products that could appeal to the Turkish market during the winter season and throughout the year. However, realising this potential requires not only attractive tourism offers but also appropriate travel conditions, accessible information and predictable administrative procedures.
In this context, one of the most significant practical challenges affecting tourism exchanges between the two countries repeatedly emerged in the discussions: the visa procedures faced by Turkish citizens wishing to visit Bulgaria.
During the meetings, Turkish partners highlighted the difficulties encountered by Turkish citizens when planning tourist trips to Bulgaria.
Key concerns included administrative requirements, the organisation of visa procedures, and additional costs charged by intermediary companies providing document preparation and visa application assistance services.
According to the Turkish representatives, the total cost of these services can place a considerable financial burden on families with several members. This can make travelling to Bulgaria difficult even when there is a genuine desire to visit the country and strong interest in its tourism offerings.
The issue is not limited to the winter season. Potential visitors from Türkiye are interested in Bulgarian winter and spa resorts, cultural and historical attractions, wine tourism and other travel experiences throughout the year.
From the tourism industry's perspective, clearer and more accessible procedures could help facilitate organised group travel, family holidays and individual travel programmes.
During the meetings, the Turkish partners asked the Bulgarian Association of Travel Agencies to support efforts to organise a meeting with the relevant Bulgarian institutions, where these issues could be discussed in a professional and constructive manner.
They expressed a desire to explore opportunities to improve and simplify visa procedures for Turkish citizens and their families wishing to visit Bulgaria for tourism purposes.
The proposed institutional dialogue would involve representatives of:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the management of its Consular Service;
The Ministry of Tourism;
The Council of Ministers, insofar as the matters under discussion fall within its remit.
The purpose of such a meeting would be to clarify the existing administrative and practical difficulties, discuss possible solutions within the framework of applicable national and European regulations, and identify ways to reduce unnecessary obstacles to tourist travel.
Particular attention should be given to improving information for applicants, clarifying procedures, ensuring greater transparency and predictability of costs, and improving the organisation of services for families applying for visas for tourism purposes.
BATA views such initiatives as part of its broader efforts to promote international tourism cooperation and create better conditions for legitimate tourism businesses. At the same time, any specific proposals must be discussed with the competent institutions, which will assess the available options in accordance with the applicable legal framework.
Developing tourism exchanges between Bulgaria and Türkiye has the potential to benefit tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, spa centres, cultural attractions and local economies.
Turkish visitors could contribute to a stronger winter season, increased travel outside traditional peak periods and the development of specialised tourism products. Achieving these objectives requires coordination between businesses and institutions, consistent efforts to address shared challenges, and practical opportunities for travellers to complete their planned journeys.
The participation of BATA Chairman Odysseus Spasov and Partner Travel Ltd. in the initiative in Thrace provided an opportunity to establish direct contacts with Turkish partners and raise issues of practical importance to tourism exchanges between the two countries.
The next important step is to continue these contacts through institutional dialogue and concrete proposals, so that interest in Bulgaria can translate into actual tourist visits, sustainable business partnerships and new opportunities for Bulgaria's tourism industry.
BATA will continue to support initiatives that promote professional cooperation, improve the conditions for tourism development and strengthen ties between Bulgaria, Türkiye and the other Balkan countries.
