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Bulgaria doubles tourism promotion funding in 2027 budget with €10 million for airline and tour operator partnerships

1 min read

Passenger jet on final approach to an airport near a sunny seaside coastline Economy
Passenger jet on final approach to an airport near a sunny seaside coastline

Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov plans a tourist-tax reform, tighter oversight of short-term lets and a Tourism Guarantee Fund, aiming to double foreign tourists by 2030.

The draft 2027 state budget provides an additional €10 million for a new advertising and connectivity mechanism for tourism, doubling the funds for promoting Bulgaria compared with 2026, the Ministry of Tourism announced on 6 November, BTA reported. The money will be used through direct partnerships with airlines and international tour operators, linking promotion to new air routes, more visitors and a longer season.

"Every euro invested must deliver measurable results," Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov said. Speaking to Nova TV on 7 November, he said every euro spent should generate a return of €20 and that the focus would be on attracting mid-range and high-end tourists.

The plans include a reform of the tourist tax, under which at least 50% of the revenue will go to advertising and better connectivity for the destination concerned, with local businesses involved in setting priorities and spending made public. Tourism registers will be linked and oversight of short-term accommodation tightened, which the ministry expects to add 500,000 to one million registered overnight stays in 2027 compared with 2026.

Work is also continuing on a Tourism Guarantee Fund to protect travellers if a tour operator becomes insolvent, and on a National Observatory for the Quality and Sustainability of the Tourism Product. The legislative changes are planned in three stages: an initial package in November 2026, further measures and preparations for the guarantee fund by January 2027, and changes on national resorts, accommodation categories, sea beaches and taxation by June 2027.

"We are working towards doubling the number of foreign tourists by 2030 and increasing tourism's direct contribution to gross domestic product by at least two percentage points," Dimitrov said.

Looking back at the summer, Dimitrov said a dispute between a major German tour operator and an airline had cost Bulgaria 220,000 airline seats. Tourist numbers were similar to 2025, while tourism revenue rose by 19%, he said. He added that he had met the five largest tour operators in London, who confirmed growing interest in Bulgaria.

Sources