Evtim Miloshev

Hoteliers along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast are reporting a disappointing summer season, describing it as miserable due to a significant drop in visitor numbers. According to "Trud news," the decline in attendance has reached up to 40 percent compared to the previous year. The Southern and Northern regions are particularly affected, with only Sunny Beach showing a rise in tourist traffic.

The Ministry of Tourism is allocating 1.5 million leva for Bulgaria's presence and advertising on major social networks. This initiative was announced by Acting Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev during a parliamentary committee hearing in response to a query from MP Vyara Todeva of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB).

A recent survey conducted on our Facebook page has shed light on public opinion regarding Bulgaria's potential importation of workers from South Asia. Of the participants, 74.3% expressed support for the idea, citing its potential to bolster the economy, while 25.7% expressed opposition, fearing potential negative consequences for the country.

The greatest growth of foreign tourists on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast is expected from Great Britain, according to data from Burgas airport.

A conference was held in Nessebar under the motto "Experience Bulgaria" to promote Bulgarian tourism. Representatives from the tourism industry in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were in attendance.

Acting Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev addressed Bulgaria's labor shortage, particularly acute in the tourism sector, highlighting the need for an estimated 27,000 workers for the upcoming summer season.

Coastal hoteliers are increasing employee wages by at least 20% to address the staff shortage, explained Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev to BNR.

"Since the start of the year, for the first three months, data from the European Tourist Commission shows that Bulgaria is in second place for recovery compared to 2019, which is a very positive indicator," Miloshev said.

Along the Southern Black Sea coast, preparations are in full swing for a successful and peaceful summer season, as confirmed by Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev following discussions with local authorities and control institutions. Expectations are high for increased tourist enrollment and institutional readiness.

As summer approaches, Bulgaria's seaside tourism industry faces a daunting challenge as hotels may remain shuttered due to a severe shortage of staff. The predicament stems from a reluctance among workers to accept low wages, exacerbated by delays in visa procedures for seasonal employees from third countries.