site.btaUPDATED Summer Tourist Season Kicks Off May 31

The summer tourist season on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast will be officially opened on May 31 in Pomorie, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh announced in Burgas after a meeting with control institutions on the coast ahead of the summer. “We are highly prepared to welcome the upcoming summer season,” the Minister said.

He added that there are some concerns related to the work of Burgas Airport.

"I do not see a trend of increasing passenger traffic through the airport. Or at least not one that is significant for the development of the region. I see prepared municipalities, good infrastructure, and at the same time the connectivity in no way meets what the municipalities and the industry expect," Borshosh said. The Tourism Ministry has already requested a report from the concessionaire of Burgas Airport, Fraport, setting out its expectations for 2025, he added.

During the meeting on Sunday, the Minister was briefed on specific problems of the seaside municipalities. He explained to journalists that the administrations have raised issues that require coordination between several state institutions.

The issue of security was the main focus of the conversation. "I am glad that the mayors have not cut their security budgets or made compromises. Bulgaria remains a preferred destination, precisely because of the calm and secure environment," Borshosh said, pledging that the Tourism Ministry will assist in increasing the number of seconded Interior Ministry officers in the active summer season on the Black Sea coast, and seeking international partnerships to boost seaside security.

"Changes in the laws regarding the adoption of the time limits for design, the limited period for construction on the Black Sea coast have been demanded," the tourism minister added. He also said that the possibility of establishing a control body under the Tourism Ministry to act as a "tourist police" was also discussed.

Specific cases requiring better coordination between institutions, including the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Culture, were raised at the meeting. Suggestions were made for legislative changes aimed at easing the procedures that currently hamper the activities of local authorities. Minister Borshosh also presented opportunities for a joint national advertising and marketing campaign to support the efforts of municipalities.

“There are control functions that are scattered in different bodies. Their coordination is complicated, which means a delayed reaction or even the lack of one. There should be legal changes to create this control body. This will help to bring to light the grey sector in tourism, especially the organization of unauthorized tourist trips,” the Minister explained.