Balgarianovinite.com The Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA) and the Bulgarian Society of Health Professionals in Rheumatology signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at supporting the sustainable development of Bulgaria’s health tourism sector and improving the qualifications of medical specialists. The agreement, signed at BTA’s National Press Club in Sofia on Tuesday, provides for joint training programmes, seminars and conferences, participation in national and European projects, the exchange of expertise and good practices, and the preparation of expert analyses and proposals for the development of health tourism.
BUBSPA Chair and European Spas Association (ESPA) President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siyka Katsarova described the memorandum as another step in expanding the Union’s network of professional partnerships, following similar agreements with the Association of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and the Bulgarian Hospital Association. She stressed that despite advances in technology and artificial intelligence, the quality of rehabilitation and prevention depends on the expertise of healthcare professionals and direct patient care. Katsarova reiterated BUBSPA’s goal of establishing Bulgaria as a competitive year-round destination for health tourism, noting that a joint working group of the Ministries of Tourism and Health is already preparing an action plan for the development of medical tourism.
Dr. Vladimira Boyadzhieva, representing the Bulgarian Society of Health Professionals in Rheumatology, said the partnership will create new opportunities for the continuing professional development of rehabilitation therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and clinical psychologists involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. She highlighted Bulgaria’s significant, but still underutilized, potential for medical and health tourism based on its abundant mineral water resources, adding that the Society’s membership in the relevant European professional organization will facilitate the introduction of European standards, best practices and international projects.
Health economist Arkadi Sharkov said that, in a period of fiscal constraints, developing medical tourism could generate substantial added value for the Bulgarian economy and contribute directly to GDP growth. Referring to an assessment prepared jointly with the Bulgarian Hospital Association, he noted that Bulgaria competes in an increasingly competitive international market but has strong advantages through its combination of SPA and wellness facilities, rehabilitation services, highly qualified healthcare professionals trained to European standards, and competitive pricing.
In the first half of May, the future of sustainable health tourism was discussed by representatives of European institutions at the HEALTHXCHANGE 2026 meeting at the Golden Sands resort. The forum was organized by the European Spa Association (ESPA), the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA) and HTI (Health Tourism Industry) Conference & Expo – an international platform and event organization focused on the development of health, spa, wellness and medical tourism. The hosts were the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Varna, and BTA – a major media partner. Bulgarian Balneology Union, Rheumatology Professionals Sign Cooperation Memorandum to Advance Health Tourism 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-30 11:56:20 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law