Bulgaria's tourism industry expects a weaker summer season, with the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association estimating that the number of tourists could be down by 5% to 7% and revenues by as much as 25% compared with last year.
The industry attributes the decline to fewer flights and charter services, reduced tourist flows from neighboring countries and weaker demand from some international markets amid wars and broader uncertainty.
However, Pavlin Kosev, chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said it was still too early to make a final assessment of the season. He noted that Varna remains busy, with favorable weather and warm seawater continuing to attract visitors.
"It is still too early to summarize the season. Varna is full of tourists, the weather is nice, and the sea water is warm. September is very suitable for tourism because the services are cheaper and the sea is calmer because the children are starting school," Kosev said.
He said June had been particularly damaging to tourism because of rainy weather and unusually cold seawater. The football World Cup was another factor affecting demand, as some potential travelers chose to follow the tournament instead.
