site.btaTour Operators Report Increase in Early Bookings for Summer Season in Bulgaria

Ivan Groshev, chair of the Association of Incoming Agencies, was quoted by the Ministry of Tourism as saying during his participation at the Hospitality & Tourism Summit 2024 here on Thursday, that tourism companies report an increase in the number of bookings for Bulgaria. Jet2Holidays has seen a 70% increase in bookings for Bulgaria compared to 2023, TUI is up 20%, BalkanHolidays also reports an increase.

Groshev stated that the programme introduced by Minister of Tourism Zaritsa Dinkova for the Black Sea coast is appreciated by the leading tour operators as a message for new proactive policy. He congratulated Dinkova and her team on Bulgaria's return to the world's largest tourism exhibition, the ITB Berlin Kongress, which will be held between March 5 and 7.

Kalin Sutev, manager at Destination Touristic Services, also congratulated the Minister for her efforts to have Bulgaria participate in the German exhibition. He said: "The advertising and promotion programme for the Black Sea region is the first step towards the recovery of the German market. All of us, the Ministry and the industry of tour operators, should be the driving force to restore the confidence of the German tourist in Bulgaria."

Dinkova expressed readiness, through the joint efforts of the governmental and non-governmental sectors, to continue the development process. She then criticized "a group of people, who are also connected to some industry bodies" for having used the money for Bulgaria's advertising as their own pocket money for many years.