site.btaGovernment Discusses Summer Tourism, Plans to Extend Epidemic Emergency

April 27 (BTA) - "The Government will extend the epidemic
 emergency on Wednesday, so that the hospitality industry and
tour operators will be clear about the requirements during the
summer tourist season," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov
said on Tuesday. He discussed measures which will be in place
during the summer season with the ministers of health and
tourism and with tourism industry executives.

Health Minister Kostadin Angelov listed three options for entry
into Bulgaria: a certificate attesting to inoculation with a
WHO-approved vaccine against COVID-19, a negative PCR or antigen
 test, or a documentary proof of natural immunity acquired as a
result of a confirmed infection in the previous six months.

"The entry requirements should be competitive to those set by
the other countries. They should help Bulgarian tourism," said
Angelov.

Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Mariyana Nikolova
stressed that Bulgaria is ready for the summer season. This
country is launching a campaign mottoed "Safe Summer 2021",
targeting the neighbouring Balkan countries and the priority
markets. "We have gone for aggressive advertising," said
Nikolova, adding that this helped a good winter tourist season
in Bulgaria. Despite the pandemic, many holidaymakers from the
neighbouring Balkan countries opted for Bulgaria this winter,
she said.

"Bulgaria's winter tourism was the only one in Europe and the
region to operate at full steam, with properly managed
epidemic-control measures. We are glad to see - and there are
data to confirm it - that we have done better even than our
neighbours who are in lockdown," Borissov commented.

The PM sees as a good sign Bulgaria's Tourism Ministry receiving
 the Best Country Presentation Award at the International Travel
 Show in Moscow in March. In his words, at a time of
confrontation in the region over Ukraine, Bulgaria stands a fair
 chance of attracting more tourists.

"The emphasis now is on seaside tourism, but rural and church
tourism are other important niches," said Borissov. That is why
vaccines should be available to everybody in the tourism
industry, which was worst hit by the pandemic.

Borissov added that the participants in the meeting discussed
measures which will apply to Bulgarian tourists returning from
holidays abroad. DD

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