Delyan Dobrev, Minister of Energy, Economy and Tourism, has argued that Bulgaria must persuade Israeli tourists that it is a safe holiday destination.

Speaking after a commemorative service for the victims of the July 18 terror attack in Burgas, he insisted that the incident "will not harm relations between Bulgaria and Israel or the tourism sector in the country. On the contrary, it will provide additional stimulus for the development of bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and Israel and for maintaining the growth of Israeli tourists visiting the country."

The Tuesday ceremony was attended by Israeli Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov, Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov, Burgas District Governor Konstantin Grebenarov, and Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel Yuriy Sterk.

After expressing his condolences for the victims of the bus bombing, Dobrev explained that he would visit Israel in the next 10 days to persuade "Israelis, as well as all tourists" that Bulgaria is a safe place for spending the holidays.

"Israeli tourists traditionally spending their holidays in Bulgaria are around 6-7% of all and we expect the number to increase," Dobrev remarked.

Israel's Minister of Tourism arrived Monday on a visit to Bulgaria, heading a delegation of Israeli businessmen.

Misezhnikov noted that Bulgaria was visited by around 170 000 Israeli tourists per year.

"We are here to show that terrorism will not succeed and we shall not stop travelling," he emphasized.

Misezhnikov and Dobrev met with a group of Israeli tourists spending their holidays in the Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach to make sure that the visitors were happy with their stay and felt safe.

Dobrev also told journalists that they had discussed with tour operators the need to keep tourists posted about the security measures taken by the state.