site.btaTourism Ministry to Award Concessions on Seaside Beaches

114 ECONOMY-SEASIDE BEACHES-CONCESSIONS-NEW REGULATIONS

Tourism Ministry to
Award Concessions on
Seaside Beaches


Sofia, July 18 (BTA) - Passing amendments to the Concessions Act at second reading on Friday, Parliament resolved that the concessions on seaside beaches will be awarded and overseen under the terms and conditions of the Black Sea Coast Development Act, i.e., by the Tourism Ministry.

The National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria (NFSB), part of the power-sharing United Patriots coalition, opposed the amendments. NFSB leader Valeri Simeonov said that the new provisions make the award of concessions on beaches non-transparent and "destroy the Bulgarian tourism".

Another NFSB MP, Hristian Mitev, described the provisions as "a dream come true of the Tourism Ministry for total control in the award of concessions on beaches".

In its reasoning to the amendments, the government, which authored them, argued that seaside beaches are specific facilities and the award of concessions on them may not be done under the procedure regarding airports, ports and other big infrastructure facilities.

Concession agreements in respect of beaches concluded prior to the new amendments will continue to be in effect until the expiry of their validity. RY/ZH//