Plovdiv is becoming a year-round destination: The Municipality and Hoteliers Join Forces

Plovdiv Municipality and the Association of Hoteliers are launching joint efforts to transform the city into a destination that attracts tourists not only during the summer but also throughout the rest of the year. The topic was discussed at a meeting between Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, Deputy Mayor Plamen Panov, and representatives of the hotel sector.

One of the main priorities is the development of diverse tourism products – from cultural and festival events to wine, gastronomic, congress, and sports tourism. Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov emphasized that investments in culture bring direct benefits to the local economy, with the municipality increasing its budget for cultural events by 10% annually.

During the meeting, speculations regarding high accommodation prices during major music festivals were also addressed. The Chairman of the Association of Hoteliers, Petar Denchev, assured that prices are fair and consistent with the quality of services and the scale of the events, noting that large festivals such as "Philgood" and the upcoming "Hills of Rock" guarantee almost full hotel occupancy.

Specific development ideas include:

• Creating permanent spaces for tasting local wines and foods, including the potential use of former bomb shelters under the city's hills;
• Attracting international sporting championships;
• Improving transport infrastructure, including buffer parking lots and the development of Plovdiv Airport;
• Strengthening joint advertising of the city as a tourist center.

Deputy Mayor Plamen Panov emphasized the importance of dialogue between business and local government to achieve sustainable development for the region.