Abstract: The publication advocates the thesis on the significance of sustainable utilization of mineral water resources as a strategic factor for the development of tourism in Sofia, Bulgaria. It analyzes the social, economic, and health aspects of using thermal mineral springs, emphasizing their importance to the tourism industry. The study examines potential opportunities for optimizing these resources, integrating them into the national tourism offering, and the potential benefits for society and the economy. The object of the study is the thermal mineral springs in Sofia, while its subject encompasses opportunities for sustainable use and integration of these resources into the city's tourism offering. The publication evaluates the current state of Sofia's thermal mineral springs, utilizing methods to assess tourism potential, including a review of existing sustainable tourism practices and opportunities for infrastructure development. The analysis incorporates economic aspects of tourism investments, focusing on return on investment and socio-economic benefits for local communities. Strategies are proposed for the sustainable use of thermal mineral resources and their integration into Sofia's tourism industry. To achieve its objectives and substantiate its thesis, the publication employs a range of general scientific methods and approaches such as induction, deduction, expert analysis, comparative analysis and synthesis, literature review, meta-analysis, statistical methods, and a systematic approach.

Full publication available here: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-76148-5_24