site.btaCabinet Aims to Double Number of Foreign Tourists by End of Its Term in Office

The Government aims to double the number of foreign tourists visiting Bulgaria by the end of its term in office, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov said on Bulgarian National Television's morning show on Saturday. According to Dimitrov, Bulgaria has enormous untapped potential, which translates into missed opportunities.

“Bulgaria welcomes around 4 million foreign tourists annually. All countries with strong summer tourism sectors, and indeed tourism-oriented economies in general, such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkiye and Croatia, receive between two and three times more tourists than their population. We are lagging behind in this respect, which gives us the opportunity to act boldly and look ahead,” he said.

Dimitrov stated that the Government's major objective is to double the number of foreign tourists from the current 4 million to approximately 8 million by 2029, which would increase tourism's contribution to the economy.

“This would have a 2% effect on our gross domestic product. Thanks to tourism and the revenue it generates, we will be able to increase its contribution to the economy,” he said.

Among the measures envisaged by the Tourism Ministry is improving connectivity so that tourism promotion efforts are translated into actual tourist visits.

Easing visa requirements is also among the Government's priorities. Dimitrov cited Chinese tourists as an example, noting that Bulgaria currently issues between 8,000 and 10,000 visas annually to Chinese visitors, while Croatia grants around 500,000 visas a year to Chinese tourists. He stressed that Bulgaria has enormous potential in the Chinese market, but taking advantage of it would require a direct air connection between Bulgaria and China.

Dimitrov said it is necessary to develop a sustainable marketing mix, adding that neighbouring countries such as Romania and Türkiye are among Bulgaria's leading source markets, while Germany remains another key market.

The Tourism Minister explained that charter flights from Germany traditionally begin earlier than those from other markets - in May and June - and continue later into September, effectively extending Bulgaria's tourist season.

“When tourists arrive earlier, hotels open earlier, hire staff earlier, and the season becomes longer. Resorts themselves look different, as maintenance and preparation begin at the start of May,” he said.

According to Dimitrov, this is why, together with the German Ambassador to Bulgaria, they have announced a “Marshall Plan” for developing Bulgarian tourism in the German market. Activities under the three-year strategy are expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

“Our goal is to increase the number of German tourists from 300,000 to 1.1 million. This would completely transform our Black Sea coast because we would open earlier, close later, and be able to offer better-quality services and more attractive packages,” he said.

Regarding the current tourist season, Dimitrov said that after a hesitant start, the good news is that resorts are now fully occupied. According to the tourism information system, overnight stays and bookings are approaching last year's levels.

Dimitrov argued that this season resembles the state budget in that it has inherited deficits from previous administrations. As a result, it remains uncertain whether the shortfall accumulated during May and June can be recovered sufficiently for the season to be considered successful by the end of September.

According to him, solutions may be found through both more aggressive marketing and more attractive offers. He cited one of Bulgaria's latest tourism campaigns, which used the word “cool” to capitalize on the high temperatures affecting Western Europe.

The Minister expressed confidence that good results would be achieved through the joint efforts of the Government and the business community.

Addressing efforts to reduce the size of the shadow economy in tourism, Dimitrov said the Government wants to be a partner to businesses that operate transparently. He noted that a regulation is due to be adopted under which all providers of short-term accommodation will be registered. At the same time, attracting more foreign tourists also contributes to greater transparency, as these bookings typically come through major tour operators and payments are made via banking channels.

Dimitrov stressed that tourism officially accounts for 8% of Bulgaria's GDP, but its actual contribution is twice as high when related activities are included. According to him, more than 350,000 people work directly or indirectly in the tourism sector, meaning that one in every five or six employed persons in Bulgaria works either in tourism or in a related industry.

Commenting on social media complaints about high prices at some seaside establishments, Dimitrov said Bulgarian tourism offers a wide range of options, from premium services to more budget-friendly alternatives, and that “we should not focus on isolated cases but rather unite around the advantages of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.”

He pointed out that Bulgaria ranks third in Europe for bathing water quality.

Dimitrov also said that the Tourism Ministry is developing a software platform called Tour Alert, through which users will be able to report irregularities, prompting inspections. He added that a regulation will also be adopted requiring all seaside attractions to be registered, allowing consumers to verify whether a particular attraction meets safety standards.

Regarding contracts signed by previous administrations at the Tourism Ministry, Dimitrov said dozens had been terminated because the funds involved had not been used efficiently.

“We no longer have the right to gamble with the industry's resources. We need to promote Bulgaria very aggressively, and every cent matters,” he said.

Speaking about Bulgaria's upcoming hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, Dimitrov said the ambition is to make it the best edition of the event to date. More than 1,000 journalists are expected to visit the country, and special tours will showcase Bulgaria's attractions, from UNESCO sites to its seaside and mountain destinations. He added that the most recent Eurovision featured 92 accompanying events, while the Bulgarian edition is expected to offer even more.

Dimitrov also highlighted promotional campaigns featuring well-known figures from sport and culture, noting that additional prominent personalities are expected to participate in future tourism marketing initiatives.

Concluding the interview, Dimitrov encouraged Bulgarians to spend their holidays in their home country, noting that 67% of registered tourists are in fact Bulgarian citizens.