site.btaTourism Is One of Solutions to Demographic Crisis in Bulgaria, Says Tourism Minister

Tourism is one of the solutions to resolving the problem of the demographic crisis in Bulgaria, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh said at the opening of a workshop within the framework of the second annual specialized conference of the Erlebe Bulgarien/Experience Bulgaria event in the Golden Sands resort.

Borshosh pointed out that the birth rate crisis would be overcome if young people were kept in Bulgaria to start families and develop a business, adding that this is exactly where tourism belongs, as it provides opportunities for opening and implementing a family business.

The shortage of labor is not only a problem of this sector, but of Bulgaria's entire economy, Borshosh stressed, noting that the state is indifferent to the topic. He recalled that an interdepartmental working group was created on the problems of issuing visas for workers from third countries. The minister also indicated that his team's desire is for these procedures to start earlier, to be shorter and, when there are refusals, to be timely, so that companies have time to react.

One of the big questions is what is happening to the Bulgarians who have to work in the tourism sector, and what could motivate them to stay in this sector, Borshosh emphasized, adding that the personnel who graduate from higher education enter the middle and high management segment in the industry. "The problem is that there are no such people who enter the lower levels," he said.

Seasonality is also a factor of great importance, as young people cannot possibly want to start working for just a few months, the minister pointed out. He highlighted the competition between different industries, as well as the presence of those that offer much higher salaries than tourism. "However, tourism creates a workforce where other sectors cannot," Borshosh concluded.