Bulgaria's Acting Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov, who was at the Albena resort on Thursday to open the National Professions Competition, reported that available data suggest that the upcoming summer season will be better than 2019 with an increase of 5%. Markets that were somewhat stagnant have recovered in Bulgaria, while many tourists are expected from traditional markets as well as emerging markets such as Poland and the Czech Republic.

The UK market is also seeing growth. The German market, which had a big drop, is recovering little by little, the minister said, adding that he expects an increase of about 25%, compared to a year ago.

Dimitrov expects a relatively long summer season, which will last like every year until the end of September. According to him, the challenge that awaits us is not to fill the hotels in June, July and August, but to have good attendance in May.

The minister will call on MPs to support the ministry's budget to provide funding for charter flights, as this measure was essential and already used by Bulgaria's neighbors.

Dimitrov emphasized that the industry has begun to use much more digital technology to assert itself.

More than 100 thousand foreign tourists visited Bulgaria during the Easter holidays, with a large part of them from Romania, the minister said. Bulgaria had a very good winter season despite the lack of snow.

Commenting on what will happen after April 30 with Ukrainian refugees accommodated in hotels, Dimitrov explained that this decision is within the competence of the National Task Force.

He said a comprehensive review is currently underway in conjunction with the Task Force to help determine the next course of action by the end of April./BTA