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

Tourist industry wants lower VAT to remain in place

Dimitrina Goranova
Photo: BTA

Bulgarian tour operators and travel agents are hoping the new parliament will reconsider the decision to revert to the higher VAT (20%) for the industry as of 1 July. They are insisting that tourist packages be subject to 9% VAT until the end of 2024, as has been the case for restaurant operators.

“Unless that happens we shall have to pay hundreds of thousands of leva to make up for the difference up to 20% because the tourist packages were sold last year, budgeting for a VAT rate amounting to 9% and we cannot update prices now,” said Dimitrina Goranova, chair of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents in an interview with the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

A lower VAT rate was introduced three years ago as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic but tour operators say they have not yet reached 2019 levels, and are insisting that the 9% VAT rate for the industry remain in place.



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

Parliamentary Speaker Natalia Kiselova

The request for a referendum on the euro will not affect the report on Bulgaria's readiness to adopt it: Natalia Kiselova

President Rumen Radev intends to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. But this will not affect the expected report from the European Commission on the country's readiness to join the eurozone, the Speaker of the National Assembly Natalia..

published on 5/20/25 12:04 PM

Public transport in Sofia resumes its normal operation

The normal movement of buses, trolleybuses and trams in Sofia is being restored as of today, after last night the unions announced an end to the 6-day blockade of public transport. The blockade of Sofia's public transport to be lifted on Tuesday..

published on 5/20/25 9:48 AM
Rumen Radev and Nicusor Dan (right)

Bulgarian President Radev invites his new Romanian counterpart Nikusor Dan to visit Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Head of State Rumen Radev has officially invited Romania's new President Nikusor Dan to visit Bulgaria , the Bulgarian President's press office announced. Rumen Radev congratulates winner of Romanian presidential election Nicusor Dan..

published on 5/20/25 9:43 AM