Pavlina Ilieva

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.

In a recent roundtable discussion on "Travel, Leisure, and Consumers," Bulgaria's Tourism Policy Directorate presented compelling statistical evidence showcasing the country's resilience as a tourist destination amid global challenges.

A better year in tourism is expected from the "Future of Tourism" Association. However, the political situation and the winter without snow are not in favor of the sector, said Pavlina Ilieva, president of the branch organization of tour operators.

Increased interest in charter programs for Christmas and New Year, according to tour operators. However, tourists are sensitive to all restrictive measures and many of the registrations are at the last minute.

Tour operators and travel agencies are planning a protest in front of the Presidency in connection with the granting of the latest aid to the industry. Pavlina Ilieva, chairwoman of the Future for Tourism Association, explained that the Ministry of Tourism has changed the rules and is delaying the opening of the application measure, DarikNews writes.

Representatives of the tourism industry will mount a protest in front of the Council of Ministers. They insist on state support for the sector suffering huge losses during the emergency situation. The key demands are a 5% reduction in VAT for tourism in the next two years, as well as an extension of the refund period for the prepaid but cancelled trips abroad, BNR reported.

Tour operators from the Future for Tourism association are pushing for the creation of a guarantee fund, the purpose of which is to protect consumers in case of insolvency of the tour operator in case of  force majeure.