Another tragic incident on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast has drawn attention to gaps in the regulations concerning the safety of tourist attractions. The tragedy, in which a child died in an accident with a parachute towed by a motorboat near Nessebar, caused a wave of public outrage and questions about the control over such activities. Against this backdrop, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov announced upcoming changes aimed at filling the legislative void.
The minister's statement was made during an inspection of construction work on the railway line between Kostenets and Septemvri. His comment came as a direct response to what happened in Nessebar, where the fatal incident occurred during parasailing. It turns out that the current regulation only regulated the vessel. Grozdan Karadzhov confirmed that the boat used in the tragedy was in good condition and had successfully passed two inspections. The check of the captain's permit also found no violations, with the minister stating: "it's in order as well".
Why do incidents happen?
According to Karadzhov, the reason for the tragedy is the "lax control" over the equipment. He specified that elements such as harnesses, buckles, ropes, and other critical components directly related to the safety of participants are not regulated. To prevent future incidents, new standards will be introduced to regulate this very equipment. With this move, the responsibility for controlling the technical condition of the attractions will be officially assigned to the „Maritime Administration“.
The minister pointed to Greece as an example of good practice, where the "Maritime Administration" has broader powers, including control over parasailing harnesses and buckles. "Now, with the new rules, we will introduce our „Maritime Administration“ to do this from now on," the Deputy Prime Minister assured.
What changes are coming?
The planned changes will cover not only parasailing but also other attractions that pose a potential risk to tourists. Grozdan Karadzhov explained that requirements for certain standards that the equipment must meet will be introduced, and it will also be regulated who will carry out the inspections. He emphasized that these inspections can also be performed by accredited private companies, which will ease the burden on the state administration. "We are not talking about a new burden for companies. We are not talking about a new regulation on how to do business, but about writing down and legally regulating what you are obliged to provide as a level of safety if you commercially offer attractions," Karadzhov concluded. With these measures, the state aims to guarantee a higher level of security for vacationers, while not imposing unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses.