site.btaUPDATED Tourism in Bulgaria Is Reviving, but Unlikely to Hit 2019 Peaks, Say Experts

Bulgarian tourism is reviving, however it is unlikely to hit the peak levels from 2019, industry experts from across the country said for BTA. Among the favourable factors that boosted the tourist numbers, are the softening of the anti-pandemic measures and the rich cultural calendar available in some regions.

The experts however are concerned by the new COVID wave and the potential return of the face mask mandate.

Varna, on the Black Sea

High-end hotels near the coastline are full, Prof. Stoyan Marinov, co-chair of the Varna Chamber of Tourism, told BTA. According to Marinov, vacancies are available in establishments with fewer stars that are further away from the beach.

This year the largest numbers of tourists come from Poland, Germany, Romania, and Czechia.

"The number of Bulgarians spending the summer on the Black Sea is much lower compared to last year,", Marinov said. According to him, the main reason is inflation. Additionally, the lifting of the COVID restrictions in Turkey and Greece sees many Bulgarians travelling to these destinations.

Marinov predicted that factors such as the war in Ukraine and the chaos at airports all across Europe will lead to the tourist flow coming to Bulgaria by air being 25 to 30% lower compared to 2019.

Plovdiv, South-Central Bulgaria

Hotels and other accommodation facilities are working at a 95% capacity thanks to the well-developed event tourism in the city, according to Lyubozar Fratev, chair of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Council – Plovdiv non-profit association. For example, thousands of music lovers attended Solar Plovdiv and Hills of Rock in July. Plovdiv's other popular festivals include Opera Open, The Black Box, Stage at Crossroads, Wine and Gourmet, all of which make the city an attractive tourist destination all year round, Fratev stated. 

According to data released by the National Statistical Institute, the first five months of 2022 saw a 97% rise in the number of overnight accommodations compared to the same period of 2021.

Out of 400 destinations, Plovdiv ranked 4th in Europeanbestdestinations.com's 2022 list.

Dobrich, Northeastern Bulgaria

This summer the Albena resort on the Black Sea is expecting to see 65-70% of the number of accommodations from 2019, the resort's advertising manager Stanislav Stilyanov told BTA. The tourist flow from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark has already been restored to its pre-pandemic rates.

The holiday resorts on the Dobrudja Black Sea are expected to work at 50 to 60% capacity, said Dimitar Dimitrov, head of the Regional Hotelier and Restaurateur Association. For comparison, the resorts were full mid-July 2019.

There are around 1,800 Ukrainian migrants accommodated in seaside hotels under the government humanitarian programme, Dimitrov said.

Razgrad, Northeastern Bulgaria

The traditional Yogurt Fair and the Festival of Folk Traditions and Arts and Crafts are expected to bring tourists between July 28 and 30.

Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria

The average occupancy rate from the beginning of January to the end of June is around 13%, BTA learned from Veni Petrova, chair of the Hotelier and Restaurateur Association in Stara Zagora. "This is somewhat comparable to the data from pre-pandemic 2019, when the first half of the year saw an occupancy rate of just over 17%," she added.

Petrova is concerned by a potential new mask mandate, as well as by the rising gas and electricity prices.

Sliven, Southeastern Bulgaria

Kotel Municipality Mayor Kosta Karanashev told BTA that the region's rich cultural calendar had tourists book rooms since 2021. A festival dedicated to the local carpets is expected to attract 15,000 to 20,000 between July 29 and 31.

Another 4,000 motorcycle enthusiasts gathered for the bike parade near the village of Kipilovo between July 21 and 24.

Targovishte, Northeastern Bulgaria

Targovishte is registering a significant increase in domestic tourism flow, Todor Yanakiev, a member of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association board of directors, told BTA. Tourists visit archaeological sites such as the early medieval Misionis fortress, as well as Bulgaria's ancient capital cities of Pliska and Preslav.

One problem that Yanakiev pointed out, is the insufficient staff numbers in the restaurant industry. "The quality of the service offered by Bulgarian personnel must be raised through professional education. This way, we could avoid unflattering comparisons with standard of service in neighbouring Turkey, Greece, and North Macedonia," Yanakiev said.

Kardzhali, Southern Bulgaria

Hotel owners noticed fewer tourists from Turkey. The reason is likely the Turkish lira's accelerated deterioration, Danail Dyalkov, head of the Bulgarian Hotelier and Restaurateur Association in Kardzhali, said

Lovech, North-Central Bulgaria

Hoteliers and tour operators are expecting a good season, despite some services now costing 25 to 35% higher. Last year, the number of registered overnight accommodations was 70,000, which seems to be the trend this year as well, Lovech Municiplaity Mayor Tihomir Kukenski told BTA.

Silistra, on the Danube

The number of tourists visiting the Srebarna Nature Reserve is similar to last year's number, despite having the anti-pandemic measures softened in the spring.

A significant rise in the number of visitors was reported by religious complex, which hosts the memorial of rabbi Eliezer Papo. His grave is visited by pilgrims from Israel, Romania, the UK.