Tourist summer 2026: focus on Bulgarian tourists and moderate growth from the EU

Bulgaria is expecting a moderate growth in the summer tourist season. The country will position itself as a safe, welcoming and accessible destination in the context of the complex geopolitical situation, announced caretaker Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva. Currently, bookings from leading markets are up by about 1% compared to 2025. In the remaining two months before the start of the summer tourist season, efforts will focus on advertising in key markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy and Spain, BTA reported.

The domestic market remains a priority— in summer 2025, there were over 5.2 million tourist registrations, including 2.8 million from foreign visitors.

Discussions are currently underway regarding compensation for electricity and fuel costs, as well as reducing VAT to 9% for restaurants and providing vouchers for trips not taken due to force majeure.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov