60 Years of 'Discover Bulgaria': Sliven to be the Center of Major Celebrations for the National Tourism Movement

This year, the Bulgarian Tourist Union (BTU) marks a significant jubilee – 60 years since the founding of one of the most large-scale public movements in the country: 'Discover Bulgaria - 100 National Tourist Sites'. The initiative, which aims to reveal the most valuable natural and historical wonders of the homeland to Bulgarians and foreigners, will be celebrated with large-scale events in the Sliven region.

The celebrations will take place on July 25 and 26 in the area of Zheravna village and the Sliven Balkan, and will be combined with the traditional national trek 'In the Footsteps of Voivode Stoil'. The organizers are the BTU and the '100 Voivodes' tourist society – Sliven, with the support of the local municipality.

Celebration Program

July 25 (Saturday): The program is rich and includes an organized hike, an exhibition in Zheravna, thematic lectures, historical reenactments, and demonstrations. An important moment will be the meeting of the gold badge holders, and the cultural part will conclude with a festive concert featuring Desi Dobreva.

July 26 (Sunday): The day is dedicated to a more relaxed exploration of the region – visits to the museums in Kotel and a hike along the 'Siniya Vir' eco-trail to the Zakhari Stoyanov house-museum in the village of Medven are planned.

History and Digital Transformation

The movement was created in 1966 and has attracted over 10 million participants since then. Today, the list of sites includes 176 significant locations – from peaks and archaeological reserves to museums and galleries. With the implementation of a digital platform in 2023, interest in the movement is growing rapidly, as the application allows tourists to collect 'digital stamps' via QR codes.

For active tourists, the BTU also organizes a game with prizes. Those who have collected 100 stamps (paper or digital) have a chance to win one of two passenger cars, encouraging the younger generation to use technology to discover the hidden treasures of Bulgaria.