site.btaTourism Committee Chair Discusses Tourism Act Amendments with Tour Operator Organisations

Parliamentary Tourism Committee Chair Rositsa Kirova (GERB-UDF) discussed with representatives of tour operator organisations the need to update the Tourism Act, the deepening staffing crisis in the tourism sector, problems at border checkpoints, and the need to develop sustainable foreign markets for Bulgarian tourism, GERB's press centre said on Monday.

The discussion was attended by representatives of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA), the Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents Union Future for Tourism, and the Bulgarian Association of Travel Agencies (BATA). Kirova assured industry representatives that they would be regularly invited to committee meetings to participate directly in discussions on problems facing the sector and proposals for resolving them. She also stressed the role of the parliamentary committee as a platform for cooperation between institutions and businesses.

"In me and, I hope, in my colleagues on the committee, you will have a parliamentary platform that can serve as a bridge to the Tourism Ministry. I am convinced that we will establish a sufficiently good dialogue and work together to solve problems and develop the sector," Kirova said.

The issue of the Guarantee Fund was raised by all participants in the meeting and emerged as one of the tourism industry's main shared priorities. ABTTA Chair Petar Stoyanov pointed to the need to accelerate the process of establishing the Guarantee Fund. According to him, it is important to preserve the insurance product so that the interests of all parties - tourists, tour operators and insurers - are protected to the greatest possible extent.

Future for Tourism Association Chair Pavlina Ilieva focused on the legislative amendments needed not only in relation to the Guarantee Fund but also concerning the European Package Travel Directive.

Odisey Spasov and Galin Georgiev, members of BATA's Management Board, called for a reduction in the administrative burden on tour operators and travel agents.

The meeting also addressed the need for real and effective measures against the grey economy, which continues to hamper the development of legitimate businesses in the sector, as well as issues related to visa regimes and their impact on inbound tourism.

Participants also discussed roadworks on the main routes leading to the Black Sea coast ahead of the peak summer season.