The attack against the tourist industry in Bulgaria this year was very strong, said Minister of Tourism Zaritsa Dinkova in an interview with public service TV BNT.

The international situation is very complex, and Bulgaria is part of it, she added. The Nova Khakhovka dam explosion was a disaster, which called for immediate reaction, and we did that. We now have 22 blue flag beaches, nevertheless there was constant information that our sea is very dirty. The sea water along Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast was cleaner this summer than in previous years, Zaritsa Dinkova said. In spite of all this, according to national statistical data, the tourism sector marked a 4% growth compared to 2019, Minister Dinkova said and added that preparations of the infrastructure have started for the 2024 summer tourist season.

However, in the aftermath of the flooding along the southern segment of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on 5 September, the results of the second samples taken from the drinking water and the sea water in Tsarevo municipality on September 11 show very degraded indicators. The tap water in Tsarevo is still deemed unfit for drinking, and people should not go into the sea.

• Tap water in Tsarevo is still unfit for drinking, people should not go into the sea