The difficult start of the summer season in Bulgaria

The NSI statistics for June confirmed the pessimistic expectations for Bulgarian tourism. The total number of foreign vacationers recorded a decline of 0.5%, with the situation in the German market being the most concerning.

In one year, the number of German tourists has decreased by 15%, dropping from 57 thousand to 48 thousand people in the month of June alone.

Main reasons for the outflow of tourists:

  • Logistical problems: Cancelled charter flights from seven German cities to Varna and Burgas.
  • Competition: Diversion of tourists to Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia, where charter transport is subsidized.
  • Regional decline: The decline in tourism is not an isolated case, but covers the whole of Eastern Europe.

Losses and perspectives

The Bulgarian Black Sea coast has lost about 120 thousand expected German tourists for the season. Despite the growth in Polish tourists (+21%), this fails to compensate for the lack of traditional guests. In response to the crisis, countries from Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, have sent a joint letter to the European Commission requesting extraordinary support due to geopolitical tensions.