Bulgaria’s tourism industry is experiencing a strong start at the beginning of 2024, even though the country has issues with hiring staff.
The European Tourist Commission states that Bulgaria is the second-best in recovering tourism compared to 2019, with a 39% increase in the first three months of 2024.
Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev is hopeful because almost 80,000 tourists registered for the early May holidays.
Hoteliers raise wages for staff
To address the staff shortage, coastal hotel owners are increasing employee wages by at least 20%, according to Minister Miloshev.
He also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send more staff to consular offices in Central Asian countries, where many job applicants for Bulgarian tourism are located.
Right now, visa appointment requests are booked several months in advance, causing employers to wait for these workers.
Bulgaria 40th in tourism index
In the World Economic Forum’s global ranking of tourist destinations, Bulgaria is ranked 40th out of 119 countries and regions.
This puts Bulgaria ahead of its neighbor, Romania, which is ranked 43rd.
The ranking looks at factors and policies that help the tourism and travel sector grow in a sustainable and adaptable manner, which also helps the country’s overall development.
Extending 9% VAT for tourism
Miloshev mentioned that they are trying to extend the 9% VAT for tour operators, which is supposed to expire in July.
The Ministry of Tourism wants to talk with the Ministry of Finance to see if they can keep applying the 9% VAT to ongoing business deals.
If they succeed, it would greatly benefit employers and the tourism sector.
Advance plans for organized tourism
The minister explained that tourism plans are made far ahead of time, so it is not possible to adjust schedules because of the weather.
Many foreign tourists plan their trips in the spring, with bookings beginning the year before. This shows how important long-term planning is in the tourism industry.
Smooth sailing for EU tourists
Bulgaria’s growing tourism industry is good news for visitors to the European Union (EU). As an EU member, Bulgaria lets EU citizens visit without needing visas.
However, starting in mid-2025, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be used to check travelers before they enter the Schengen Area to improve security.
Balancing growth and immigration policies
As Bulgaria’s tourism sector grows, it might attract more long-term travelers and immigrants, like families, investors, digital nomads, and students.
The country’s immigration policies will need to change to handle more people coming in while keeping the borders safe and secure.
The new ETIAS system starting in mid-2025 will help pre-screen travelers from countries that do not require Schengen visas. However, Bulgaria’s government will need to balance promoting economic growth through tourism and maintaining effective immigration control.
Bulgaria’s tourism triumphs and trials
Bulgaria’s tourism industry is off to a good start in 2024, even with staff shortages. The government is trying to fix this by raising wages and keeping the 9% VAT for tour operators.
Bulgaria ranks 40th in the global tourism destination index, so it is in a good position to keep growing in the tourism sector.