The tragic death of an eight-year-old child in Nessebar, following a parachute incident towed by a motorboat, shook the public and raised the issue of the lack of regulation and control over extreme tourist attractions. In response to the increased public interest, the Minister of Tourism, Miroslav Borshosh, gave a statement to journalists in Apriltsi, where he is on a working visit.
During his visit, related to the discussion of a project for the construction of a ski lift in the municipality, the minister answered questions about the unfortunate event. He emphasized with concern that at this stage, we do not have an institution that can be responsible and exercise control functions over extreme attractions. This finding reveals a serious legislative vacuum that puts the lives and health of thousands of tourists, both Bulgarian and foreign, at risk every summer.
Urgent need for regulation
Minister Borshosh expressed his firm position that it is necessary to immediately initiate a dialogue between the institutions.
"Our conversation with the institutions to have strict control over such attractions is beginning", he said, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. According to him, the first step is to determine
"who and how should issue the permit regimes for all these extreme attractions". This question, according to the minister, is
"quite debatable"and reveals the lack of a clear structure and responsibility in the state administration.
Search for a responsible body
The Ministry of Tourism, even though the attractions are part of the tourist product, does not have the necessary powers for control. Borshosh was adamant that none of the things that need to be changed are within the competence of his department. He pointed out that in other European countries, this type of activity falls under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Minister of Tourism believes that this institution would be the most suitable in Bulgaria as well, as extreme sports are practiced by the relevant clubs, which are already part of it.
"The control – whether a facility is a parachute, bungee, paraglider, balloons, or others, is within the prerogatives of this ministry"
, Borshosh noted, emphasizing the logical distribution of responsibilities. He announced that he will have talks with his fellow minister to find
"a suitable formula"for solving the problem.
The tragic price of inaction
The incident in Nessebar, which the minister described as
"extremely tragic", served as a painful reminder of how the lack of adequate regulations and supervision can lead to fatal consequences. While the institutions are trying to find a solution, the families of the victims and the public as a whole are left with the feeling that such tragedies can be prevented with timely and adequate measures. Future control over extreme attractions is of vital importance to ensure the safety of tourist services and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.