site.btaTourism Minister Prodanov Predicts 15-20% Price Increase in Seaside Tourism

Tourism Minister Hristo Prodanov commented on the newly opened summer tourist season on the morning show of Nova on Sunday, saying that he expects a 15-20% increase in accommodation, services, and food prices on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. He said that electricity prices do not affect the price of seaside umbrellas and expressed hope that concessionaires will offer reasonable prices.

Prodanov also expressed hope the 2022 summer season will get as close as possible to 2019 in terms of the number of tourists, however, he also expressed his understanding of the impossibility of the aim. He noted that most visitors are expected from Poland, Hungary and the United Kingdom, and perhaps Israel. 

Regarding the Ukrainian refugees accommodated in state facilities, Prodanov said that these people should find jobs, vacate the facilities, and be integrated promptly so that state employees who have booked their vacation can take advantage of their opportunity. 

Answering questions on the political situation in Bulgaria after the withdrawal of the There Is Such a People (TISP) part from the ruling coalition, Prodanov said that such an action at the moment is irresponsible. He assumed that a new government within the present parliament is possible. Prodanov noted that the political insecurity leads to an economic one, and said that it is frivolous to boycott a budget related to business revenues. According to him, the reason for the current political crisis is the lack of coordination between Continue the Change and TISP.