Representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Commission for Consumer Protection, and the tourism sector — including members of
Association, “Union Future for Tourism”, and Bulgarian Association of Sustainable Tourism — gathered at the Ministry of Tourism for a working meeting to discuss the sector’s concerns related to Bulgaria’s upcoming accession to the euro area. Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh opened the meeting, thanking all participants and emphasizing that the tourism industry is among the most prepared sectors in the country for the euro’s introduction. He encouraged the participants to actively engage in the discussion and raise their questions regarding the challenges and regulatory requirements faced by the sector.
Maria Filipova, Chairperson of the Commission for Consumer Protection , also thanked the hosts for organizing the meeting and assured attendees that the goal is prevention, balance, and stability, not sanctions. “We are seeking the partnership of businesses in the process of familiarizing consumers with the changes and ensuring their proper implementation,” she stated.
The main topic of discussion at the meeting in the Ministry of Tourism was the conditions and timeframe for the introduction of dual price display for tourism services offered by Bulgarian tourism companies using foreign booking platforms and airline ticket sales systems. Under current legislation, the deadline for introducing dual pricing is subject to a decision by the European institutions, with a proposal before Parliament to extend the deadline until 8 September. Representatives of the business sector raised the issue of extending the implementation deadline, arguing that additional time is needed to develop a software of foreign booking systems used by Bulgarian companies. The meeting also addressed requirements for dual price display for registered Bulgarian tour operators operating exclusively on foreign markets, with a focus on preventing potential sanctions arising from non-compliance.
It was agreed that industry representatives would compile all their questions and proposals and submit them to the Ministry of Tourism and the Commission for Consumer Protection. These institutions, in turn, will present the summary to the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism and the Committee on Budget and Finance for further discussion. “This will serve as a clear signal to the legislature of the tourism industry’s willingness to initiate a process of discussion, analysis, and, if necessary, legislative amendments to address the specific issues raised,” concluded Minister Miroslav Borshosh.