Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Tour operators call for state aid, but tourist sector is divided

Protest of tour operators in Sofia, March 2,2021
Photo: BTA

Representatives of the tourism industry from the association "Future for Tourism" have organized a protest in front of the Council of Ministers in central Sofia. They are calling for state aid because of the pandemic. They want a reduction of VAT for tourism to 5% in the next 2 years. They also want an extension of the period for refund of prepaid amounts for cancelled trips abroad, which expires on March 13. It is demanded that a state guarantee fund of 35 million euros be created to cover the money to their clients.


The Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents told BNR's Horizon program that they did not support the protest. They believe that this will create inequality in the sector in relation to state aid.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgarian AI influencer Ahinora greets MEPs

Bulgarian virtual influencer Ahinora made her debut in the European Parliament, greeting MEPs. Ahinora is the first Bulgarian avatar, and now an influencer, generated by artificial intelligence, the European Parliament’s press service announced...

published on 5/23/25 5:30 PM

Bulgarian media from 25 countries to gather in Sofia on 24 May

For the past two decades, Bulgarian media outlets based abroad have gathered at an annual event organised by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA). This year marks the 20th edition of the event, known as the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, which will..

published on 5/23/25 5:19 PM
Ministers of Tourism of Bulgaria Miroslav Borshosh (R) and Tonci Glavina meet in in Zagreb.

The Bulgarian tourism sector is all set for the adoption of the euro, Minister Borshosh says

Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh held a working meeting with his Croatian counterpart, Tonci Glavina, in Zagreb this week , the Ministry of Tourism announced today.  The conversation focused on the potential advantages of adopting the euro for..

published on 5/23/25 4:38 PM