site.btaBulgaria Positions Itself as Competitive Health Tourism Destination

Bulgaria is establishing itself on the European map of health tourism as a competitive destination offering high-quality services, Dr Siyka Katsarova, chair of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), told BTA ahead of the Union’s annual congress in Pravets on September 9. BTA is a media partner to the event. 

As of June 2025, the country has 44 registered medical spa centres, 110 spa hotels, and 35 wellness centres, with investments worth hundreds of millions. Leading destinations include Velingrad, Pavel Banya, Hisarya, Sandanski, Sapareva Banya, Kyustendil, Devin, and resorts along the Black Sea coast such as Sts Constantine and Helena, Albena, Pomorie, Golden Sands, and Sunny Day. Around 80% of visitors are Bulgarians, followed by tourists from Greece, North Macedonia, Germany, and Israel.

Katsarova noted that challenges include weak transport connectivity, insufficient infrastructure around spa destinations, and a shortage of medical and rehabilitation specialists. She also criticised the exclusion of private certified medical spas from Bulgaria’s National Insurance Institute programme and said its funding remains inadequate.

She recalled that since 2019, certified Bulgarian medical spa centres have been recognised by German public-private health funds, enabling reimbursement for preventive care, with growing interest also from Austria and potential from Scandinavian markets.

At the congress, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh will present the results of the first national study on medical tourism. Katsarova expressed confidence that developing this sector will help Bulgaria consolidate its position as a European health destination offering world-class care.