Air connectivity between Bulgaria and our neighbours in the Balkans – the main tourist markets, are the winning move to exit the crisis for the aviation and tourism sector. This was the conclusion that tour operators and airlines drew after the first Regional Forum on Air Connectivity and Tourism held on 22 February 2022 in Burgas. The event was organized by the association “Rafael – info, culture and tourism” – Burgas with the kind cooperation of the Municipality of Burgas, the Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association (BAIA), the Ministry of Tourism and the concessionaire of the sea airports “Fraport Twin Star Airport Management” AD.
The forum started with an address by Todor Ivandjikov – President of BAIA, who said:
“The Western Balkans are a great opportunity to attract tourists to the Southern Black Sea coast. We initiated this meeting between the airline and tourism sector to look for opportunities to help each other. My idea, as president of the Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association, is to look for a way to develop historical, cultural, wine, spa tourism, not just seasonal summer tourism. Serbia is a good destination, but it is important to make a survey and statistics to see people’s interest in different flights. The state also needs to pay serious attention to domestic aviation so that we can overcome the negative effect and the coronavirus crisis more quickly. ”
GullivAir CEO Yanko Ivanov said that the daily connection between Sofia and Burgas will be restored on March 27. During the forum, it became clear that the airline will also start operating regular flights to Albania from the end of March, and according to Ivanov, the programme is such that Burgas and Tirana will be practically connected. On March 26, the flights to North Macedonia will start, and in June there will be a connection with Bucharest, so the seaside city will have connections with these Balkan capitals. This will be valid for the whole summer season, a connection with Belgrade is also being considered. Whether there will be a direct connection with the Serbian city depends on the interest, Ivanov explained and invited tour operators to give concrete proposals.
Other BAIA members Electra Airways are willing to charter flights and have also expressed their openness to the industry to communicate and consider new proposals.
Dr. Frank Kwante – CEO of Fraport Twin Start Airport Management AD assured:
“Fraport Twin Star” has been working intensively for years to improve overall connectivity and to open and develop year-round routes to/from Burgas Airport and will continue to do so in the future.”
In his words, in 2021 Burgas Airport served 62 destinations in 24 countries through 49 airlines, and also in the problematic COVID year 7 new routes were opened and 5 new airlines operated flights from/to Burgas Airport for the first time. New routes to Bucharest, Timisoara and Cluj are currently planned for 2022.
All participants in the Forum, including the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Bulgaria – H. Dr. Jelko Jovic, stressed the need for even more successful marketing of Bulgaria as a tourist destination. Also, the Deputy Minister of Tourism – Irena Georgieva, announced a plan to involve the municipalities and the private sector in the decision-making for the further development of tourism in Bulgaria. Valentin Atanasov – founder of the association “Rafael – info, culture and tourism” Burgas, said:
“We must not forget that the looming crisis from the East is all the more reason to put the above conclusions urgently into practice to overcome another global conflict, restrictions and limitations on the aviation sector, tourism and the economy.”
Coordinated and concerted action is the key to successful management and marketing in this complex and competitive sector, concluded the attendees.