Balgarianovinite.com The Bulgarian Hotel Association (BHA) has rejected what it described as “misleading claims about the state of the country’s tourism industry”, arguing that many of the sector’s challenges stem from decisions made by the national and local authorities rather than from shortcomings within the industry itself.
In a statement Tuesday, the association said it would not allow tourism to become a “scapegoat” for management failures or attempts at public manipulation, pledging to counter what it called myths with factual evidence.
Addressing comparisons with competing destinations such as Greece and Croatia, BHA argued that those countries have treated inbound tourism as a strategic priority and reduced VAT rates for the sector, while Bulgaria has instead focused support on outbound travel and the restaurant industry.
The association also dismissed claims that hoteliers had sought subsidies for flights from Germany, stating that such measures would conflict with European Union rules. It noted that passenger traffic through Bulgaria’s Black Sea airports remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, with fewer than 3.8 million passengers recorded in 2025 compared with more than 5 million pre-COVID.
BHA points out that the government chose to ease concession payments for Sofia Airport but not for the airports in Varna and Burgas, on the Black Sea.
The organization said targeted marketing campaigns involving major tour operators and airlines could help boost inbound tourism.
The BHA further argued that responsibility for poor road conditions, transport disruptions and shortcomings in resort infrastructure lies with state and municipal authorities.
Regarding profitability, the association cited national statistics showing that operating margins in the hotel sector have declined from pre-pandemic levels. It said public perceptions are distorted by statistical data that combines hotels with restaurants and, in some cases, even unrelated sectors.
The organization also defended wage levels in tourism, saying they are close to the national average. However, it identified the high tax burden on lower-paid and seasonal workers as a major challenge, arguing that it contributes to labor shortages, encourages workers to seek employment abroad and increases the industry’s reliance on foreign labor. Bulgarian Hotel Association Rejects Criticism of Tourism Sector, Blames Policy Decisions for Industry Challenges 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-23 10:05:35 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