site.btaBlack Sea Resorts Complain of Shortage of Qualified Staff

Black Sea Resorts Complain of Shortage of Qualified Staff

Varna, on the Black Sea, June 12 (BTA) - The tourist industry is
 experiencing a serious shortage of qualified personnel and
urgent measures are needed to tackle the problem. Participants
in a discussion on the industry's problems rallied behind the
idea. Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova attended the forum
which brought together representatives of all Black Sea resorts
and the regional governors of Varna, Bourgas and Dobrich.

Ivelina Grozeva of Albena AD said that the season is becoming
shorter and qualified staff won't stay if they are hired for
four months.

Georgi Shterev of the Union of Hotel Managers in Golden Sands
resort said that only unqualified job seekers register with
employment offices. Elena Kosseva of the Sts Konstantin and
Elena resort said that access to the labour market from non-EU
countries such as Ukraine and Moldova should be facilitated,

The representatives o fthe resorts were unanimous that rule for
awarding beaches under concession should be changed and
concession fees reduced.

Participants reported fewer tourists this year. Kosseva said
that a decrease is observed for less luxurious establishments
which rely mainly on Russian and Ukrainian tourists. According
to her, higher category establishments are not reporting a
decline in the numbers of tourists.