At the end of the summer season: Bulgarian tourism has not reached pre-pandemic levels

Bulgarian tourism hasn't reached pre-pandemic levels despite a rise in visits to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast this season.

The industry pointed to the geopolitical situation, fewer charter flights to Bulgaria, the repair of the Danube Bridge and competition from neighbouring countries as the main reasons.

Despite the attractive offers on the Northern Black Sea coast, many of the hotels were only full at the peak of the season.

"What is most frightening at the moment is that we have also started to lose our safe markets like Romanians, Poles, because the competition around us is stronger and attracts them," said Stanislav Stoyanov, a hotelier.

"If we talk in terms of revenues - yes, they are the highest, this is mostly because of inflation, but the costs on the business have also risen and therefore the business is not very happy with the season," added Stoyan Marinov, Varna Tourist Chamber.

The expectations of the industry for a longer tourist season did not fulfill either. Despite the need for urgent measures, not enough is being done in this direction, hoteliers are unhappy.

"The resort is empty. As far as I know in Balchik it is the same. There some visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from the surrounding towns and villages, but during the week it is empty. Now is the time for the pensioners, for state workers with vouchers. But again nothing has been done for that," added Stanislav Dimitrov, manager of a hotel in Kranevo.

"This renovation of the Danube Bridge - Ruse, which they actively started in the middle of the season, has led to a big repulsion of many tourists who used to come to our Northern Black Sea coast," said Stanislav Stoyanov, a hotelier.

Fewer tourists came to our country this summer because of the reduced number of seats on planes to Bulgaria.

"For the months of May, June and July, we have one million fewer overnight stays than in 2019. There are people willing to come for a holiday on our Black Sea coast, but when there are no seats, enough capacity, they choose competitive destinations," said Stoyan Marinov, Varna Tourist Chamber.

"Because of the shortage of charter flights we lose tourists from Germany, Central Europe, France, from all over Western Europe," said Stanislav Stoyanov, hotelier.

According to experts, now is the best time to organise a strong information campaign aimed at markets in Western Europe to convince tourists that Bulgaria is a safe destination despite the complicated geopolitical situation.