Sunny Beach, Bulgaria’s largest seaside resort, is heading into the summer season facing significant operational challenges, with many hotels still closed and those already open struggling with severe staff shortages just days before the first expected tourist arrivals.
Industry representatives told bTV that the sector continues to be hit by a shrinking season and growing difficulties in recruiting seasonal workers. The lack of both qualified domestic employees and the slow process of hiring staff from abroad are among the main pressures affecting preparations this year.
Although planning for the season reportedly began months in advance, hotel operators say many properties remain understaffed or only partially operational. A major bottleneck is the delay in visa processing for foreign workers from countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal, which hotels rely on to fill key positions.
Employers claim that in many cases all necessary paperwork has been completed on their side, but applications remain stuck in consular processing. One hotel owner said that roughly 80% of planned seasonal staff were expected from abroad this year. “Everything is ready on our side, but when we reach the consular offices, there is no movement,” he said, warning that delays are already affecting the start of operations.
