site.btaOver 3 Mln Tourists Expected to Visit Bulgaria This Winter, Tourism Minister Says

In a bTV interview on Sunday, caretaker Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev emphasized the need for legislative changes to develop infrastructure in Bulgaria's winter resorts. He highlighted the long-standing issue of not having enough ski lifts.

Over 3 million foreign visitors are expected to come to Bulgaria during the 2024-25 winter season, with approximately 300,000 of them specifically visiting for ski vacations. The rest will travel to the country for SPA, urban, or medical tourism. "In terms of urban tourism, Bulgaria is a very attractive destination," Miloshev stressed.

The Minister pointed out that the VAT rate for sports facilities in Bulgaria has increased from 9% to 20%, adding that "it is natural for this 11% difference to directly affect the price of ski passes." He noted that all alpine countries have preferential VAT rates for their sports facilities, which makes Bulgarian ski passes less competitive. However, Miloshev underscored that the overall winter tourism product in Bulgaria—including accommodation, dining, and experiences—remains highly competitive.

"Bulgaria offers the best price-to-quality ratio for its tourism products," Miloshev said, emphasizing that this is a significant advantage over neighbouring countries.

The primary tourist influx to Bulgaria comes from neighbouring countries and the UK.

Regarding Bulgaria's upcoming accession to the Schengen Area by land on January 1, 2025, Miloshev noted that, because of it, the Tourism Ministry estimates additional revenues of BGN 300 million annually for Bulgarian tourism over the next few years.