Iran, Bulgaria call for enhanced tourism cooperation

Belgrade, March 17, IRNA – Iranian ambassador to Sofia Abdollah Norouzi and Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova, in a meeting in Sofia on Tuesday called for enhanced tourism cooperation between Tehran and Sofia. Referring to the existence of a cultural agreement between Iran and Bulgaria dating back to 48 years ago, the Iranian ambassador said that 15,000 Iranian tourists visit Bulgaria a year and 10,000 Iranian trucks crossing Bulgaria signals cordial relations between Tehran and Sofia. Norouzi said that with its tourism attractions, Bulgaria has a potential for attracting further Iranian visitors. The Bulgarian minister of tourism, for her part, said the ground is prepared for signing agreements between Iran and Bulgaria on tourism cooperation. Angelkova said she is scheduled to have a meeting soon with a top-raking EU official in Brussels on visa issuance facilitation during which she said she will raise easing visa issuance for citizens of third countries, particularly Iran. Angelkova expressed readiness to visit Tehran to discuss with her Iranian counterpart on ways to develop tourism ties.