site.btaTourist Season in Sozopol Starts Earlier Than Expected

The tourist season in Sozopol has started a month earlier than expected, said hotel and restaurant owners on Tuesday. For at least two weeks now, tourist groups from Poland, Slovakia, Germany and Great Britain have been arriving to the seaside town, they noted, adding that French speaking guests are also heard often on the streets. 

Forecasts had predicted fewer foreign tourists because of the European Football Championship in Germany, which, thus far, has not come true. Expectations now are for tourist sites to be permanently occupied at least until the end of September. Mayor Tihomir Yanakiev said that the growth in the sector is expected to be at least 10% in 2024. "At the moment there are many foreign tourists with us, but we rely mostly on Bulgarian tourists, who we hope will not come only for the weekend," he said at the official opening of the tourist season in Sozopol Municipality on June 15.

If these expectations for a strong season are justified will be clear after the middle of July, when the town will start welcoming Bulgarian tourists. Yanakiev emphasized that in 2024 Sozopol will rely on a rich cultural programme, even going as far as declaring the month of September a month of culture. The traditional Apollonia Arts Festival from August 28 until September 7 will mark the beginning of the cultural programme.

Accommodation prices in the municipality will be slightly higher than in 2023, with an average increase between 10% and 15%. Hotel owners noted that this was due to the increased costs of maintaining the facilities and the wage increase of workers.