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Bulgarian tourism continues to be one of the hardest hit sectors after the pandemic. Despite the reported growth in travel in 2024, our country has not yet reached the levels of 2019. This became clear during today's meeting of the National Tourism Council, chaired by the Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh.According to the Minister, the main growth in the sector is due to the activity of Bulgarian tourists, which have increased significantly. "Obviously, we have not yet recovered from Covid, which should not be an excuse, but a bad memory to get rid of," said Minister Miroslav Borshosh.An analysis of the 2024 results was also presented during the meeting. The report confirms that Bulgaria has not yet recovered its position compared to 2019, especially in the inbound tourism segment. About 50% of the country's districts have recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Among the markets with high growth, Romania stands out, while other key markets, such as the United Kingdom and Germany, have seen a clear decline. It was pointed out that the summer is shaping up to be a strong one, but the key question remains how long the season will be and how it can be extended through events and targeted campaigns.Specific challenges facing the sector were discussed during the council, including the lack of labour, the issuing of visas for tourists and seasonal workers, and the need to extend the tourist seasons. It was stressed that success in tackling these issues depends on a coordinated effort between institutions, the legislature, local government and the tourism industry. "Only with good relationships can we achieve a good result. Without joint efforts we cannot start working," the minister added.The necessary legislative changes were also a highlight of the discussion. According to the minister, the state of the sector is good, but there are serious accumulated weaknesses that can be overcome with a clear horizon and will. Work on amendments to the Tourism Act, establishment of a consumer protection guarantee fund, introduction of regulation for short-term rentals, status of national resorts, etc. was identified as urgent.Minister Borshosh also highlighted the serious problem of administrative procedures and long deadlines for issuing visas, which hinder the possibility of a flexible response to demand. The Ministry is working on speeding up procedures in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with additional funding for consular services.The Minister indicated that the National Tourism Council will be an active tool for proactive policy making. "Our aim is to look ahead and build a sustainable model. Tourism will no longer be a sector of survival, but a source of national self-confidence and modern connectivity," Miroslav Borshosh added.
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Minister Miroslav Borshosh: The Covid crisis can no longer be an excuse, but a bad memory to be rid of
2025-04-14T15:10:00
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/minister-miroslav-borshosh-covid-crisis-can-no-longer-be-excuse-bad-memory-be-rid
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12711:2025-04-14T15:10:00
Miroslav Borshosh opens prestigious international wine competition in Burgas
2025-04-11T11:17:00
Minister of Tourism welcomes wine producers and journalists from over 26 countriesMinister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh opened the 16th edition of the prestigious international wine competition Concours Mondial du Sauvignon in Burgas. The event brought together more than 1000 Sauvignon Blanc wines competing for medals in front of a jury of 60 experts from 20 countries in the seaside town."This is one of the important events for us because this year we are focusing very much on wine tourism. Bulgaria is a country that makes good wine and organises events for good wine. This is what we show today and will prove again in October when we will host one of the biggest forums – the 9th UN Tourism Global Conference. Bulgaria deserves and will take its worthy place on the map of world wine tourism," Minister Miroslav Borshosh said.Bulgaria is hosting the "World Wine Championship" for the first time for this variety, and the partners of the event are the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Municipality of Burgas and the company Probegex – official representative of CMB for the country. This year's competition marks a record Bulgarian participation with 56 samples from domestic producers who will compete with wines from 25 other countries. For 20 years the competition has been organized in iconic wine countries such as France, Spain, Austria and Italy, and now for the first time Bulgaria is hosting the Sauvignon Blanc edition.Almost half of the international jury is made up of journalists who will cover the event and publish articles about Bulgaria. Among them are Anik Goumaz, a Swiss journalist from the largest wine magazine in Switzerland – VINUM, who will prepare a special publication for a gourmet weekend in Sofia, as well as Mathilde Yulot – winner of the French Prix Curnonsky award, who will visit wineries in the Burgas region and publish articles in French and German specialized publications.The Concours Mondial du Sauvignon is part of the global Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which tastes over 15,000 wines each year and is renowned as the most rigorous and professional wine competition in the world, with its medals considered a prestigious mark of quality in the global wine industry.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/miroslav-borshosh-opens-prestigious-international-wine-competition-burgas
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12710:2025-04-11T11:17:00
Miroslav Borshosh discussed a strategic partnership with the World Travel and Tourism Council to promote investment in the country
2025-04-10T11:19:00
Bulgaria has all the prerequisites to become one of Europe's leading destinations for health tourism, tourism minister saysMinister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh met with President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Julia Simpson. WTTC is the largest international organisation representing the private tourism sector, with over 200 of the world's leading companies among its members.During the meeting, opportunities for strategic partnership between Bulgaria and WTTC were discussed, as well as joint initiatives to promote tourism in Bulgaria. The main focus of the talks was the possibility of organizing an international investment forum focused on medical, spa and wellness tourism."Bulgaria has an extremely rich variety of mineral waters, renowned specialists and universities with traditions in this field. We have all the prerequisites to become one of the leading destinations for health tourism," said Minister Miroslav Borshosh.Since the Kovid pandemic, interest in medical, spa and wellness tourism has grown significantly worldwide. Julia Simpson confirmed that the trend of demand for services in this segment is sustainable and there is strong interest among WTTC members to invest in new destinations.Minister Borshosh and Julia Simpson also discussed the World Travel and Tourism Council's sustainability programmes and the opportunities to use data and analytics for strategic planning and tourism development at both national and regional levels.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/miroslav-borshosh-discussed-strategic-partnership-world-travel-and-tourism-council
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12709:2025-04-10T11:19:00
Miroslav Borshosh and Andrey Novakov defended the Bulgarian position on the Package Travel Directive
2025-04-09T15:50:00
The tourism minister and the MEP work consistently for concrete measures in EU legislative processThe Bulgarian position on the Package Travel Directive was supported in a vote in the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) in the European Parliament. In the vote on the opinion, and almost by a full majority, the abolition of the controversial text of Article 5a concerning the amount of prepayments was supported.This is a preliminary position that should also be discussed and voted on in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, but it is an important step in removing the restriction that pre-payments should not exceed 25% of the total cost of the package when booking, as well as the ban on requiring payment earlier than 28 days before travel. "Defending the Bulgarian position is essential for small and medium-sized enterprises in our country – they provide a large part of the tourism services in our country," Minister Borshosh said in his meeting with Mr Novakov after the vote in the TRAN committee today.The revised text aims to strengthen the rights of travellers and clarify the obligations of package tour operators on issues such as refunds, bankruptcy protection or the use of vouchers.The directive introduces an information obligation that travel companies must comply with. It also extends the right of travellers to cancel package holidays without paying cancellation fees, lays down rules on the use of vouchers as an alternative to refunds and strengthens the protection of travellers in the event of the insolvency of a tour operator.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/miroslav-borshosh-and-andrey-novakov-defended-bulgarian-position-package-travel
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12708:2025-04-09T15:50:00
Northwest Bulgaria should become an increasingly popular tourist destination
2025-04-05T17:47:00
Minister Miroslav Borshosh opened the season in Belogradchik and visited Chuprene at the invitation of Regional Governor Ani HarutyunyanThe beginning of the active tourist season in Northwest Bulgaria was officially opened with a solemn ceremony in Belogradchik. Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh visited the town at the invitation of Vidin Regional Governor Ani Harutyunyan and took part in the event organized by Belogradchik Mayor Boyan Minkov. The festive program started with a spectacular ballooning over the iconic Belogradchik rocks and continued with a solemn water ceremony. The culmination of the event was the unveiling of a memorial plaque with the words of Acad. Jerome Blanqui in the center of the town and the tour of the fortress "Kaleto", which was attended by the Minister of Tourism, the Governor of Vidin, the Metropolitan of Vidin Pahomii, as well as the mayors of Belogradchik and Chupren.At the opening of the celebration, the Minister of Tourism stressed that the state and the local authorities have a united and clear goal – to work together to make the people here live better and happier, adding: "You are the important ones. It is a great honour for me to be here today and I am committed to promoting sustainable tourism in the region, investment and the promotion of natural resources," Minister Miroslav Borshosh told visitors and residents.It is important to note that Belogradchik is becoming a year-round tourist destination thanks to the joint work with the Ministry of Tourism, including through the participation of the municipality in prestigious tourism exhibitions in Europe. According to NSI data, the total number of tourist registrations in the North-West region last year was 379 thousand. Over 9500 tourist registrations were recorded in accommodation facilities in Belogradchik municipality in 2024, with the Bulgarian market leading the way. Among the foreign tourists in the municipality there are visitors from Romania, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Austria, France, Great Britain , USA and others.At the invitation of Vidin Governor Anni Harutyunyan during his visit to the North-Western region, Minister Borshosh visited several other settlements in the region – Chiflitsi, Varbovo and Chuprene. The mayor of Chuprene Mrs. Todorova presented to the Minister of Tourism an ambitious concept for the construction of ski slopes near the village of Gorni Lom, at the foot of Mount Midzhur.In the village of Varbovo, the Minister visited the Church of St John the Baptist, met with volunteers from Italy and Turkey, as well as got acquainted with the Turlac’s culinary tradition.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/northwest-bulgaria-should-become-increasingly-popular-tourist-destination
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12707:2025-04-05T17:47:00
Ministry of Tourism focuses on regional advertising to achieve sustainable tourism development
2025-04-04T14:44:00
The development of tourism in the different regions of Bulgaria is one of the main priorities of the Ministry of Tourism. According to Minister Borshosh, tourism is a direct way to keep people in their places of origin, as one of the possible solutions to help our country out of the demographic crisis. This became clear during the parliamentary scrutiny, in which Minister Miroslav Borshosh answered two questions – about the measures for advertising the regions and specifically the Montana region, as well as about the progress on the regulations for hiking and mountain biking routes. "The biggest challenge we found is the lack of clearly formulated visions for promotion, advertising and specific themes to work on at local level," Minister Borshosh stressed. He added that: "Even if we have good communication channels, municipalities often lack the necessary resources and specialists to realise their tourism potential."North-western Bulgaria, along with others, is a region included in the national tourism promotion strategy for 2025. The campaigns are wide-ranging and cover a variety of channels – digital advertising on Google and Meta, PR and event initiatives, thematic radio and TV features, participation in tourism exhibitions focusing on local sites, and the organisation of familiarisation tours. A detailed map of cultural and historical sites and an analysis of the infrastructure leading to them is also underway. "Lack of easy access not only makes it difficult but often also discourages tourists from visiting certain places," the minister said.During his response, Borshosh stressed that tourism is not just an economic sector, but an opportunity to develop a green economy and keep people in their hometowns. "It is also one of the ways to fight the demographic crisis. We will continue to work actively with local authorities and the industry to build a sustainable tourism environment in Northwest Bulgaria. Advertising is important, but only with good infrastructure and a common vision will we be able to turn the region into a preferred destination," Minister Miroslav Borshosh added.Asked by another MP about the regulation of the Rules for the establishment, marking and maintenance of hiking and mountain biking trails in the Republic of Bulgaria, Minister Borshosh said that the Ministry of Tourism is coordinating the process of its adoption by the competent institutions. The document has been prepared in partnership with 21 national and regional tourist associations, but currently there is no legal possibility to adopt it by ministerial order. For this reason, the possibility of introducing the regulations through amendments to the Law on Physical Education and Sport is being explored, for which active communication with the Ministry of Youth and Sport is underway.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/ministry-tourism-focuses-regional-advertising-achieve-sustainable-tourism
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12706:2025-04-04T14:44:00
At the insistence of the Minister of Tourism: Varna speeds up preparations for the summer season
2025-04-03T17:36:00
A working meeting on the city's readiness for the upcoming summer tourist season was held today in Varna Municipality with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, the tourism industry and local authorities.The meeting with the local government and the industry was requested by Miroslav Borshosh and organized in response to the visit of the Minister of Tourism to Varna last week, when he expressed serious concerns about the readiness of the city to welcome tourists. The mayor of the city, Blahomir Kotsev, presented a report on all the issues raised during the minister's visit regarding Varna's readiness to welcome its first tourists at the request of the ministry and the industry, and from Sofia the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Pavlin Petrov and an expert from the Control and Inspection Department.One of the main focuses of the conversation was the maintenance of cleanliness in the city and resort areas. The municipality admitted that there is a shortage of drivers in the cleaning companies, but assured that currently the cleaning is carried out according to schedule. The collection of waste from the municipal bins will be stepped up in the St. St. Constantine and Helena resort, and a commitment has been made to renovate the bus stops to improve the infrastructure in the area, which will be completed before Easter. A new contract has already been signed for this purpose.The municipality is committed to exercising increased control over the companies responsible for cleaning, repairs and construction to ensure that the activities are carried out on time and to the required quality.Among the measures discussed was the strengthening of police presence in tourist areas. Additional officers will be seconded, which will lead to an increase in the number of patrol teams responsible for security and public order.An important infrastructural topic at the meeting was the repair of the Varna – Golden Sands road, which is a key link for the tourist flow to the northern resorts. The municipality assured that the works will be completed by 10 May to ensure smooth access to the resorts at the beginning of the active season.On the occasion of the upcoming holidays, it was announced that additional emergency vehicles, fire safety and police patrols will be provided to ensure a quick response if needed.Construction activities in the city will not be completely suspended during the season, but control over cleanliness around construction sites will be intensified to avoid pollution and discomfort for tourists and residents.During the meeting the issue of stray dogs was also touched upon, with the municipality explaining that they are following established practice – neutering, deworming, tagging and returning the animals to the places from where they were picked up.For its part, the industry stated the need for more frequent communication with the local authorities so that emerging problems could be addressed in a timely manner.The next workshop on Varna's preparations for the summer tourist season will be held on 7 April at the Varna Regional Administration. The host will be the regional governor Prof. Andriyana Andreeva and the conversation will be attended by the mayor of the town Blahomir Kotsev, representatives of the tourism industry and the Ministry of Tourism. The meeting will also be attended by representatives of institutions responsible for repair, restoration and construction works in the city.The Ministry of Tourism will continue to closely monitor the process and insist on the effective implementation of all agreed measures to ensure a successful tourist season.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/insistence-minister-tourism-varna-speeds-preparations-summer-season
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12705:2025-04-03T17:36:00
Ministry of Tourism: Vitosha with new draft management plan by the end of April
2025-04-01T10:28:00
Institutions in the inter-ministerial working group on mountain tourism discussed the future of Vitosha Nature ParkMinister Miroslav Borshosh initiated the second meeting of the inter-ministerial working group for the sustainable development of mountain tourism in Bulgaria at the Ministry of Tourism, and the focus was on Vitosha. "The mountain, which is a symbol of the capital and has a huge tourist potential, is a very important topic, for which we are finally gathering all interested and responsible parties – together to decide what is the future of Vitosha. It is a top priority for us to develop sustainable tourism in the mountains and that is why we are bringing together all the parties with a stake in this process," said Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh at the opening of the meeting. In his words, the aim is to make a comprehensive analysis and to thoroughly discuss the possibilities of ensuring accessibility to the mountain without compromising its conservation.Particular attention was paid to the need to update the already developed Vitosha Nature Park Management Plan, which according to all participants is a prerequisite for real action."We expect the draft of the Vitosha Management Plan to be proposed for discussion, because it is a key instrument that will provide a basis for the next important steps," Minister Miroslav Borshosh stressed.The competent institutions have confirmed that the plan is already ready and will undergo inter-ministerial coordination by the end of April by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Environment and Water. Following positive opinions, it will be published for public consultation.Among the participants were representatives of the relevant ministries, the regional government, the Sofia Municipal Council, representatives of local authorities, NGOs and investors. The topics covered the current state of the tourism infrastructure, the need for reconstruction of existing facilities and construction of new ones, possible legislative changes, and the coordination of each step with environmental standards.In the meantime, the sub-groups continue their activities within the inter-ministerial working group, with targeted meetings to be organised for the other mountains.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/ministry-tourism-vitosha-new-draft-management-plan-end-april
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12704:2025-04-01T10:28:00
Miroslav Borshosh: We are working to make tourism a strategic priority with real support from the institutions
2025-03-29T12:53:00
The tourism industry on the Northern Black Sea coast shared its concerns ahead of the start of the season and raised specific questions on current issues in the sectorThe Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh met with representatives of the tourist sector in the Golden Sands resort as part of preparations for the summer season 2025. The objective of the meeting was to discuss on the spot the specific challenges facing the business and to outline quick solutions before the active season in response to the industry's concerns related to the neglect of the problems by the local government."Tourism is a shared responsibility – between the state, local government and business. Without partnership and timely action, it will be much more difficult to ensure the quality of services in the sector and its sustainable growth," said Minister Miroslav Borshosh. He stressed that good coordination between institutions is key, especially in areas such as the Northern Black Sea coast, where the tourist season is critically dependent on the state of infrastructure, cleanliness and security.Both long-standing challenges facing the sector and current issues were discussed during the meeting. Representatives of the tourism industry signalled serious difficulties with cleaning and garbage collection in the resorts, lack of bins and raised the alarm about a shortage of equipment. As a serious problem, the business also pointed to stray dogs in the areas of Dobrich, Varna and Balchik, which creates a risk, especially in resorts with a focus on family tourism. In response to this, Miroslav Borshosh announced that on Monday a meeting will be held with RIEW-Varna, Varna Municipality and the regional governor Prof. Andriyana Andreeva, where an urgent and coordinated solution to this problem will be sought.Another focus of the conversation was the need for a more effective policy to support air traffic and targeted destination marketing. The idea that the tourist tax should be used by the municipalities and invested in advertising and promotion of flights was discussed."We are working to make tourism a strategic priority with real support from the institutions. That is why meetings like this are not a formality but a tool for concrete action. Every identified problem must lead to a solution – quickly, concretely and in sync with the business and municipalities," said Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh.Miroslav Borshosh said that the Ministry will assist in the inclusion of business representatives in the upcoming working group on the drafting of the new regulation on relocatable objects and stressed the importance of a joint approach in planning the beach and tourist infrastructure.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/miroslav-borshosh-we-are-working-make-tourism-strategic-priority-real-support
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12703:2025-03-29T12:53:00
Minister Borshosh launched the preparations for the summer season on the Black Sea coast
2025-03-28T18:19:00
The tour started from Varna, without the participation of the mayor despite the invitationMinister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh started a tour of the Black Sea coast to check the readiness for the upcoming summer tourist season, with Varna being the first stop on his agenda. During his visit, the Minister held meetings with the academic community, control institutions and local government representatives from the Northern Black Sea coast to ensure full coordination and readiness to meet the expected intense tourist flow in 2025. "The industry has been writing to me for a month now – people are worried that Varna is not ready, but bookings for Easter are already happening and hotels will be full. It's been dug up, there are reports of poor hygiene and expectations are high – Varna is key to a successful season. That is why I am here to see on the ground what the real situation is and what is coming," said Minister Miroslav Borshosh during his meeting with the local authorities. He stressed that personal dialogue with mayors is key for him: "Tell him that it is important for me to see the mayor of Varna. I don't know why he doesn't care to see the tourism minister," the minister said, addressing the deputy mayor of the maritime capital. Progress on key infrastructure repairs, participation in international tourism exhibitions and upcoming major events for the region, both of strategic importance to the promotion of North Black Sea destinations, along with those that are a draw for tourists, were also discussed.The Minister insisted on tighter control over the timing and quality of renovation works in the city. "Insist on contractors meeting deadlines. I know the situation you are in – but every day delay, in the end, affects us all. Meet the mid-May deadline. There is one correct approach to dealing with incorrect construction companies – penalties," Borshosh said.During the coordination meeting with mayors from the Northern Black Sea coast and representatives of control institutions, specific local cases were discussed – from the lack of security in protected areas to unauthorised camping. Municipalities such as Dolni Chiflik and Shabla reported systematic problems with parking of campers and caravans in sensitive areas, enforcement of controls but with ineffective measures and legal uncertainty.The control authorities in turn reported the level of preparedness for the upcoming season. Representatives of the Border Police, BFSA, RHI, CPC, Labour Inspectorate, Maritime and Airport Administration reported increased attention, mobilisation and coordination. An increase in tourist flow of over 20% is expected, especially from Germany. Varna will welcome passengers with new flights, including a direct service from Abu Dhabi, and airlines are already planning to expand their bases."We have every reason to expect a stronger season than last year, but this should not reassure us. We have a clear task – to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for tourists to relax, and that starts with cleanliness, safety and order," Minister Borshosh said at the end of the meeting. He also addressed the issue of medical provision on the beaches and in the resorts, warning that the shortage of medical staff remains critical and urgent solutions will be sought together with the Health Ministry.The Minister thanked the institutions for their active role, but reminded that the 2025 season will be a test of the confidence of Bulgarian and foreign tourists. "You are all here, you are all on the level. But let's not kid ourselves – we have a lot of work ahead of us. Our teams will be on the ground throughout the season. Tourism doesn't happen in offices – it happens here, on the ground," he stressed.Minister Miroslav Borshosh also met with the Rector of the University of Economics – Varna, Prof. Dr. Evgeni Stanimirov, with the management of the College of Tourism and the Department of Economics and Organization of Tourism, as well as with representatives of the tourism industry. The meeting was attended by the Governor of Varna Prof. Dr. Andriyana Andreeva and the Co-Chairperson of the Varna Tourism Chamber Prof. Dr. Stoyan Marinov. The possibilities for more active interaction between the universities and the tourism industry were discussed, with a focus on the training of personnel who meet the modern requirements of the sector. The Minister stressed that knowledge and education should be the backbone of modern Bulgarian tourism.After the meeting with the control authorities in Varna, Minister Miroslav Borshosh, accompanied by Deputy Minister Irena Georgieva and prof. Andreeva, headed to Golden Sands resort for a meeting with representatives of the tourism industry from the Northern Black Sea coast to share their ideas, proposals, strategic goals and expectations for the 2025 season.
https://tourism.government.bg/en/kategorii/novini/minister-borshosh-launched-preparations-summer-season-black-sea-coast
tourism.government.bg
tourism.government.bg:12702:2025-03-28T18:19:00
