2024-04-29 08:53:06
The socialization of significant archaeological sites and the development of cultural tourism will ensure sustainable development of regions such as Targovishte
I recognize cultural tourism as my personal cause. This was stated by the Acting Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev. The minister visited Targovishte and the ancient city of Missionis today.
Significant archaeological sites are the basis of the development of cultural tourism and the sustainable development of entire regions. An example of this is Targovishte and the ancient and medieval fortress of Missionis near the city. This was the focus of the talks of the acting Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev, who visited Targovishte and the archaeological site together with the mayor of the city Darin Dimitrov, the regional governor of the Targovishte District Gergana Tsoneva and Todor Yanakiev – chairman of the BHRA in the city and member of the organization’s Management Board . The minister also met and talked with the famous archaeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, who has been making his great discoveries and working on the Missionis fortress for years. The professor personally guided and introduced the guests to the uniqueness of the place and the work of archaeologists and scientists in the field. From the point of view of cultural tourism, Misionis is an object that is extremely large in area and important for this region, it is a key, nodal point, located at an almost equal distance between the old Bulgarian capitals Pliska, Preslav and Tarnovo, near the Shumen fortress and other archaeological sights in the vicinity, explained Prof. Ovcharov. This was announced by the press center of the Ministry of Tourism.
“It’s my first time in Misionis and I’m extremely impressed by the scale, the degree of preservation of this city, first Roman, then medieval. What I saw at the archaeological site, the place where it is located – between the three old Bulgarian capitals, the immediate proximity to the sea – all this is a huge potential for the development of Targovishte and the entire region,” emphasized Minister Miloshev and added:
“I recognize cultural tourism as my personal cause in view of my entire biography so far. I think that, firstly, there are huge prerequisites for its development in Bulgaria and secondly, cultural tourism is a year-round thing and all forms of tourism can develop around it. It’s very impressive.” He noted that access to the mountain-top town is difficult but offers many opportunities. The current eco-trail that leads to Misionis could be turned into a beautiful pedestrian walkway with rest areas and investment is needed in her.
“For 9 years we have been fighting for Missionis to be given to the municipality of Targovishte, this is already a fact, we have had a deed of ownership for two months and we are in the final stages of signing a contract with the Ministry of Culture so that we can apply for European projects,” announced the mayor Darin Dimitrov. This will enable the site to be socialized and access to it is unique, he said, the perspective is good for many tourists who also want to come. but due to the difficult access they cannot visit Misionis.
Minister Miloshev shared that his meeting with Misionis was emotional in the company of Prof. Ovcharov, as this is an archaeological site, the discovery of which was started by the father of the famous archaeologist decades ago. Prof. Ovcharov emphasized:
“Serious funding and targeted subsidies are needed to make several 5-6 priority archaeological sites in terms of importance and economic importance for certain areas to be completed to serve as benchmarks in cultural tourism. Because until this moment we really don’t have a single fully discovered ancient or medieval city. Even Tsarevets – a third of it has not yet been fully explored and is underground.”
After the visit to the fortress, Minister Miloshev discussed current topics for the development of the region with the chairman of BHRA in the city Todor Yanakiev and representatives of the local tourism business and RIM Targovishte. I see a welcoming, sunny and very clean and green city and I am very pleasantly charmed, said Minister Miloshev to the hosts and emphasized the importance of hospitality and the authentic experience in tourism:
“Taste is part of the tourist product. And it is something worth traveling for to come. To consume the emotion of one place, to feel the taste of the drinks, the food, to see the cultural sights, so that the tourist – Bulgarian or foreigner – can leave with the good emotion and then wish to come back again.”
All this presupposes closer cooperation between the ministries, emphasized the Minister of Tourism. According to him, there really should be a greater consolidation of various departments and a monetary resource to serve a common concept. Because when we talk about tourism, the Ministry of Culture, MRRD, municipalities, regional governments are also involved – this is a complex product.