7th EUSDR forum in Sofia: regional connection and the strong Danube region terminals

The 7 th EUSDR (EU Strategy for the Danube Region) forum was held in Sofia on October 18 and 19. The theme of this year's forum, which brought together more than 900 participants from 30 European countries, was the development of tourism as a precondition for economic growth and regional integration.

At the opening of the conference, a 3D map of the Danube Region was presented, featuring the natural and historical heritage of this area. In the introductory remarks, it was pointed out that the Danube is an invaluable natural resource with great potential for further development and that it is therefore necessary to make efforts to improve the navigability. This would mean carriage of more goods and passengers, more extensive development of cruise tourism, and hence better opportunities for business creation and economic activity.

The Annual Forum covered the topics of particular importance for the Danube region related to preservation of cultural and historical heritage, new technologies and digitalization in tourism sector, ensuring safety and security in tourism, transport connectivity and mobility. Issues related to synergy and consistency between macro-regional strategies for achieving the common objectives of the EU and for the future of those strategies after 2020 will also be referred to. Two parallel thematic sessions on sustainable tourism mobility and security in public spaces.

At the closing of this year's conference, Bulgaria handed over the rotating Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region to Romania. On this occasion, it was said that the task of all countries of the Danube basin is joint work on strategic projects of regional importance. "Tourism and cultural heritage are important issues that unite us and make our efforts visible" was the conclusion of the 7th EUSDR forum.