site.btaDraft Revisions to Tourism Act Aim to Reduce Administrative Burden on Businesses

With proposals for amendments to the Tourism Act, the ministry aims to reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The changes are expected to improve the quality of the tourism product, create conditions for sustainable tourism development, and help find the best balance between the interests of hoteliers and restaurateurs, and consumers. This is what Eleonora Mladenova, head of the Tourism Ministry’s Department of regulatory mechanisms in tourism activities, said in an interview with BTA. She commented on the amendments to the Tourism Act published for public consultation.

One of the proposals provides for the possibility of registering class "B" accommodations and studios in residential buildings that are made available to tourists for accommodation. The proposal is made by the registering authority - mayors of municipalities, because of problems in registering this type of accommodation, which is done in order to lighten this part of the tourist service, Mladenova said. According to her, this will also lead to an increase in revenues in the municipalities.

Another proposal removes the requirement for family hotels or apartment tourist complexes to have a mandatory dining and entertainment facility. Practice shows that very often guests of these types of establishments use neighbouring dining establishments, and this stimulates small businesses in standalone dining establishments.

Another proposed change to the law makes it easier for restaurant owners to change the type of restaurant if they decide to do so. For example, if they want to change from an Italian restaurant to another type of restaurant, this can be done without the owner having to declare the change, Mladenova explained.