The summer tourist season is to start on 1 May, with strictly observed anti-epidemic measures. Arrivals in the country will have to present a PCR test, a vaccination certificate or a certificate of antibodies. This was made clear yesterday by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov while on a working visit in the country. He added that it is very important that the industry start preparing for the season now, and that arrivals be informed of the conditions for visiting the country. 

By starting the active season early the government is trying to reanimate one of the sectors hit hardest by the epidemic. The idea, as the May holidays approach, is for the people working in the tourist industry to be given “some predictability so they can plan their concrete packages,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariyana Nikolova. Discussions are currently underway on this country’s participation in the so-called digital green certificate for travel within the EU, with the idea of making travel in the region easier. 

Bilateral arrangements are currently being discussed with regard to allowing entry to tourists with so-called vaccination certificates. The authorities say that the measures are fully coordinated with the European Commission and that Bulgaria is ready to welcome tourists, including from non-EU countries. The condition is that they have a negative PCR test, antibodies or that they have been inoculated with a vaccine different from the vaccines approved by the EU.

“It sounds really good – opening the season but there are many other things we ought to bear in mind. The news should be taken with a pinch of salt,” Dimitar Popov, chairman of the board of the Bulgarian Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents commented for the BNR. He describes as positive the announcement that the season is to kick off on 1 May for the markets “where immunization is in full swing” but right now Bulgaria is facing the following very serious problem:

“At least for Western Europe, Bulgaria is bright red on the Covid-map and that is by no means to our advantage. At the moment the major tour operators who do charters are closely monitoring this index when they plan their flights. And until the spread of the infection and the deaths drop in this country we cannot expect a successful season.”

Dimitar Popov says that at this time of chaos and unpredictability the entire industry is functioning on the last-minute principle. Still, which markets could we rely on?

“We are relying on the closest markets – the Romanians. We are relying on Israel, Poland – these are markets which have been registering an increase in recent years. Russia remains in question, it could probably open up. But the big question that remains is Western Europe,” Dimitar Popov said in conclusion.

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova