site.btaTourism Minister Expects 5% Increase in Tourist Numbers This Winter

This winter season a 5% increase in tourists is expected compared with last year, said Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev at the opening of the ski season in Pamporovo on Saturday. He added that the growth is mainly a result of the sector's efforts to make the tourism product sustainable.

According to Minister Miloshev, tourists from the Middle East are a serious potential for Bulgaria’s winter and spa tourism.

For the winter season 197 charter flights are planned from Turkiye, Prague, Bucharest and the UAE. There will be over 38,000 passengers from the UK and Ireland, and another 37 flights from Israel with over 4,000 passengers.

In connection with Bulgaria's entry into Schengen by land, Minister Miloshev said that for the next few years, averaged across the tourism sector in the next few years BGN 300 million in additional revenue are expected "The sore subject for winter ski resorts is VAT, because this price affects the price of passes to use the ski facilities and does not make us competitive," Minister Miloshev added. He cited the example of other countries where there is a reduced VAT rate and in Bulgaria it is back at 20%.

Pamporovo CEO Marian Belyakov said: “We have not had so many tourists people in the resort for many years, so it is a good start, which should reassure our foreign partners on all charter programs.” The final price of ski passes, which should increase by at least 11%, is unlikely to compensate for inflation and wages and the burden will ultimately go to the end consumer, he added. "We don't think this is right and the VAT rate should be returned to 9% to be more competitive. Other EU countries can do it, we should be able to do it too," said Belyakov.

The opening of the 2024/2025 ski season in the Pamporovo resort was attended by Smolyan Regional Governor Zahari Sirakov, Chepelare Mayor Boran Hadzhiev, Smolyan Deputy Mayor Mariana Tsekova, Olympic biathlon champion Ekaterina Dafovska, Senior Commissioner Tsvetan Tsankov, chief of the regional directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Smolyan.