site.btaBulgarian Tour Operators Association New Chair: Tourism Guarantee Fund Contributions Designed to Protect Consumers

The Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA) has proposed that initial contributions to the planned Tourism Guarantee Fund be set between 0.2% and 0.5% of the turnover of tour operators, calculated based on direct client invoicing over the past two years. ABTTA's newly elected Chair, Petar Stoyanov, told BTA's Ekaterina Toteva and Valeria Dimitrova the contributions would remain fixed annually, based on the previous year's turnover.

Stoyanov stressed that the proposed contribution levels should not significantly impact tourism prices, citing similar practices in other European countries. He also noted the Fund would be industry-managed rather than state-run, maintaining a public register similar to the Ministry of Tourism's current system.

Companies will be required to present detailed accounting to the Fund to determine contributions accurately. Stoyanov acknowledged potential issues regarding the accuracy of these documents but said the responsibility for verification would ultimately lie with businesses, supported by oversight from the National Revenue Agency.

The source of initial funding for the Guarantee Fund remains unclear, although loans from the Bulgarian Development Bank were initially considered. Stoyanov stated the Fund could realistically start operating by January 1, 2026, pending timely administrative actions and industry cooperation.

Additionally, Stoyanov highlighted his priority to protect legitimate tour operators against rising fraudulent practices through an information campaign promoting licensed tour operators and legislative changes aimed at improving regulatory oversight and enforcement.

Approximately 3,400 tour operators and travel agents are currently active in Bulgaria, according to the Ministry of Tourism.