Tourism industry on Bulgaria's Northern Black Sea coast is ready to welcome the summer season

Caretaker Minister of Tourism, Evtim Miloshev, expects a sustainable tourist season on the Northern Black Sea coast. After a meeting with the industry, mayors of municipalities and relevant institutions in Varna, Minister Miloshev stressed that hoteliers in the region are more skeptical about the growth of tourists during the season compared to their counterparts from the south, with Varna expecting an increase of between 5 and 10%, based on early bookings.

Minister Miloshev pointed out that the industry on the Northern Black Sea coast is ready to welcome the summer season and outlined the main problems that need to be solved. These include wild camping and the shortage of water in the coastal part of the Dobrich region.

Regarding seasonal workers from third countries, Evtim Miloshev reminded that the 90-day work visa can now be renewed in Bulgaria without the foreigner having to return to his country. The stay is automatically extended by another 90 days.

There are also changes for the "D" visa, which is a 9-month visa, Miloshev added. According to him, it introduces facilitations in the documents to be submitted for the issuance and gives the possibility to extend it after its expiry. In connection with the shortage of workers during the summer season, the Ministry of Tourism will stimulate student employment.

As an issue, Miloshev also pointed to the state of the Durankulak border crossing, through which tourists from Romania pass. The capacity of the border crossing is limited and especially in the active season, it creates tension. The Minister also highlighted as problematic the new requirements for life guards under the Water Rescue Ordinance, which have caught concessionaires unprepared. The requirements relate to licensing, the establishment of medical stations and the qualification of life guards. The concessionaires have asked Miloshev to postpone the already enacted regulation until the end of the year.