The academic community of IBSB and Sofia Municipality in collaboration for the development of tourism in Sofia

On January 26, a round table was held in Sofia on the topic “The Role and Engagement of University Institutions in Building Sofia as a Tourist Destination through Collective Knowledge and Community Connections.” The event focused on the opportunities for collaboration between the academic community and institutions as a means for the successful development of tourism in the capital and attracting young people to the sector. Organized by Visit Sofia (Municipal Enterprise “Tourism”), the round table aimed to unite institutional and academic efforts to create career perspectives for young professionals in the tourism industry.

IBS participated in the forum through its representatives – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Baltova, Vice-Rector, Prof. DSc Maria Vodenska, Prof. Dr. Preslav Dimitrov, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dessislava Alexova. The IBS academic team proposed specific initiatives to strengthen the connection between education and business, including the organization of internship programs, meetings between students, representatives of Visit Sofia, and the business sector, as well as discussion forums to promote opportunities in the tourism industry.

They also presented our Tourism programs – „Tourism and Entrepreneurship“, „Resort and SPA Management“ and „Tourism Managemenet“ – which have been developed in collaboration with the business sector and are designed to prepare highly qualified professionals who meet the current demands of the tourism industry. The training is led by distinguished industry professionals and a highly qualified academic team, including Assoc. Prof. Baltova, former Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, and Prof. DSc Maria Vodenska, who was awarded the prestigious “Golden Rose” prize by the Ministry of Tourism in 2025 for her significant contribution to the development of the tourism sector in Bulgaria.

During the meeting, the Director of Visit Sofia, Mr. Anton Penev, presented summarized data on the state of tourism in Sofia Municipality and emphasized the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with the outlining of plans and ideas for joint initiatives between universities and Sofia Municipality, aiming to inspire young people to pursue education and careers in the tourism sector. The discussion was highly constructive, highlighting the participants’ commitment to working together for the development of the industry.

Photos: Source – Visit Sofia.