site.btaTourism Minister Borshosh Eyes Strong Summer, Calls for Rethinking Season Definition

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh said here Monday he expects a strong summer tourist season, based on current data from early bookings and reservations. He was speaking to journalists following a meeting of the National Tourism Council.

"Our expectations for the upcoming summer season are good, but the bigger discussion ahead is about what we currently call a summer season, and what we should be calling it," Borshosh said.

He pointed to recent meetings in Varna and Burgas initiated by the ministry, which assessed the readiness of coastal regions to welcome visitors. Borshosh said the executive is well-prepared to ensure security, public order, and oversight along the Black Sea coast. "I saw a high level of preparedness among colleagues from the tourism sector," he said.

Staffing remains a challenge, Borshosh noted. He said summer resorts are currently staffed at just over 50%, with the remaining workforce being filled by third-country nationals. This does not yet mean there is an adequate labour force, he said, citing continued delays in visa issuance, which he thinks is still not at the necessary level.

He recalled that additional funds had been allocated in the 2024 budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for increasing consular staff. He also pointed to the need for digitisation and the introduction of electronic visas, adding that the Ministry of Electronic Government is already working on the issue. "Administrative capacity needs to be increased because it affects both tourist and work visas," he said.

Borshosh expressed hope that more Bulgarians would stay and work in the tourism sector. While there are enough young people, motivation is low due to the seasonal nature of employment and insufficient pay. He highlighted dual education as a promising resource and noted that around 14 Bulgarian universities offer tourism-related programmes. However, only about 30% of graduates return to work in the sector. "This is a problem not only for tourism but for the broader economy, and it is seen across Europe," he said.

During the council meeting, agreement was reached on the need to revise the Tourism Act. Planned changes include stronger consumer protection, enhanced oversight functions for the Ministry of Tourism, the creation of an inspectorate, and clear criteria for the designation of national resorts. A review of existing ordinances related to tourism management is also planned.

The meeting also addressed the need for better coordination between legislative, executive, and local authorities in the development of regional tourism. Labour and visa policy were also on the agenda.

Borshosh said the National Tourism Council will begin meeting more frequently and focus on specific key topics. The next sessions will likely address legislative reform, the current state and development of various types of tourism, and Bulgaria’s image and strategy in tourism advertising and marketing.

Borshosh also presented final data for 2024, noting a strong recovery in domestic tourism. Nearly 5.2 million tourist registrations were recorded, compared to just over 4 million in 2019. International arrivals, however, have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 3.77 million foreign tourist visits recorded in 2024, down from 4 million in 2019.

By market, growth was reported from Romania, with improvements also seen in the Polish and Turkish markets. The UK and Germany have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, while declines were recorded in the markets for France and North Macedonia. Borshosh expressed hope that the Israeli market could also recover once the geopolitical situation stabilises.