As a result of six months of dedicated work by the Ministry of Tourism, in close cooperation with tour operator associations and the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, a draft bill amending and supplementing the Tourism Act has been prepared and submitted to the National Assembly by a group of Members of Parliament. The bill provides for the creation of a Tourism Guarantee Fund. The Fund’s main purpose is to protect consumer rights and harmonize national legislation with the EU Directive on Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements. The draft bill has already been presented and discussed twice with Members of Parliament from the Committee on Tourism during the current parliamentary term.

The Tourism Guarantee Fund will protect consumers’ rights in cases of tour operator insolvency, ensuring refunds for prepaid amounts in the event of early termination of a travel contract.

It is envisaged that the Fund will function as a collective body, with members of its Management Board appointed by the Minister of Tourism, based on proposals from the Minister of Finance, the Chairperson of the Commission for Consumer Protection, and the registered tourism industry associations listed in the National Tourism Register.

“We worked as efficiently as possible to reach this point and to establish a sustainable mechanism that protects both tourists and businesses. The creation of the Tourism Guarantee Fund is an important step toward strengthening trust in tourism services. Through this bill, we are providing real protection of consumer rights. The proposal is the result of months of intensive work and constructive dialogue with the tourism sector and Members of Parliament,” said Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh.

“After intensive joint efforts by all stakeholders — both the legislative and executive branches, together with tour operators — a coordinated amendment to the law has been proposed. Its goal is to protect consumers and responsible tour operators, and at the same time eliminate the shadow sector from the industry,” commented Dr. Desislav Taskov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism.