Velingrad will host the International Tourist Exhibition for Spa, Wellness and Health Tourism in 2018. The decision of the Municipal Council for its organization and conduct has been handed to the Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova by the Mayor of Velingrad Dr. Kostadin Koev at a meeting of the National Tourism Council taking place in the town. The forum also discussed the Annual Programme for National Advertising for 2017 and the work of the Interinstitutional Council for Personnel in Tourism.

Minister Angelkova announced that the results are now a fact and for the first five months of the year 2016 the country was visited by over 1,9 mln. of foreign tourists, which is nearly 9% more compared to the same period of 2015. The rise in the visits for holiday and vacation is 20%, and the income from international tourism for the period from January to April amounts to 453 mln. Euro, which marks an increase of 8%.

"In 2017 Bulgaria will participate in 45 international exchange markets in some of the greatest tourism-generating markets – Germany, Russia, Spain, The UK, Austria etc.", said Minister Angelkova. According to her the draft programme includes 13 new offers for participation in overseas exhibitions, but the Bulgarian attendance will depend on the activity of the sector. Among them are exchange markets in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, India, China etc.