Balgarianovinite.com In an interview with bTV on Saturday, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov said the summer tourist season is not over yet, but results are expected to be close to last year’s, within 1-2%, give or take.
The season got off to a more difficult start, with May and June weaker mainly due to the absence of part of the German tourist market, Dimitrov said. The decline was subsequently offset, however.
He said the weaker start was mainly due to the loss of about 200,000 air seats from the German market following problems between two major market players. The government and tourism industry subsequently managed to make up for much of the decrease, he said.
“The good news is that, thanks to numerous meetings, we can boast the return of German tourists,” Dimitrov said. About 150,000 new air seats for the German market have been agreed for next season, with more expected.
German arrivals could increase by 25-30% compared with this year, bringing tourist numbers closer to 2019 levels, Dimitrov said. That market is particularly important because German tourists arrive earlier, stay longer and mainly travel on charter flights.
“Charter flights are for a minimum of seven days,” Dimitrov said, explaining that longer stays and an earlier start to the season allow hotels to open earlier and offer better conditions to both foreign and Bulgarian tourists.
Commenting on prices along the Black Sea coast, Dimitrov said results were good where increases had been reasonable, while attempts at price gouging had produced less positive results. A more precise assessment of price increases, average prices and the number of overnight stays will be possible in October, he said.
One of the Tourism Ministry’s priorities is tackling the grey economy, including in short-term property rentals. Legislative amendments are planned to bring short-term rentals into the Unified Tourist Information System. The system will be linked to short-term accommodation platforms, meaning that properties not registered in the system would not be able to offer their services through them.
“We are not fighting short-term accommodation. On the contrary, we want to be partners with it, but everyone should operate in the open,” Dimitrov said.
The aim is for all those using tourism infrastructure to pay the relevant taxes, ensuring a level playing field for legally operating businesses, he said. Half of tourism tax revenue is planned to be used for promotion and improved air connectivity. The two areas should go hand in hand, he said, as advertising alone is not enough without sufficient transport options to Bulgaria.
Spending is also expected to be decentralized, with municipalities and local communities deciding how the funds should be used. Options include more festivals, events and concerts outside the peak months, helping the season start earlier and last longer.
A connectivity and promotion fund is also being discussed, along with a structure to bring together higher education institutions and help improve quality in the tourism sector.
On Bulgaria’s preparations to host Eurovision 2027, Dimitrov said there had been “huge progress” and expressed confidence that this country would be a good host. The event in Burgas is an opportunity to showcase the Black Sea coast and the rest of Bulgaria to an international audience, he said. The Tourism Ministry will organize trips for journalists visiting Bulgaria, allowing them to explore various tourist destinations across the country.
“This is a chance to show the Black Sea coast as a world stage,” Dimitrov said. The aim is to turn the positive international interest generated by Eurovision into a lasting tourism effect by working with bloggers, influencers and digital content creators after the contest. This could help Bulgaria turn interest in the event into a more sustainable tourism effect and encourage an earlier start and longer duration of the tourist season, he said.
Bulgaria Sees Return of German Tourists, Minister Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-05 08:50:00
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
БЪЛГАРИЯ НОВИНИТЕ – ИНФОРМАЦИОННА АГЕНЦИЯ 2009-2026 2026-09-05 08:50:00