Headline: Bulgaria’s Hospitality Sector Slams Power Outages During Snowstorms, Urging Action for Tourists
In a stark rebuke of repeated power outages, particularly in ski resorts across the country, Bulgarian Hospitality Association and the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Bulgaria have jointly expressed outrage. They are calling for immediate action to prevent the disruption of tourism activities, which they argue are vital to the country’s economy.
The hospitality industry reports that power cuts are causing cancellations of bookings, ruining holiday plans for thousands, and inflicting significant financial losses – amounting to hundreds of thousands of levs – not to mention the missed tax revenues during peak tourist seasons.
"We’re in the 21st century, yet we face chaos every time it snows," said representatives from both associations. "Tourists are stranded on roads, with trees falling on their vehicles, and during summer, they’re stuck in kilometer-long traffic jams due to poorly planned roadworks."
Moreover, they criticized the government’s plans to increase excise duties on spirits and beer, and rumored hikes in VAT for hospitality businesses, saying these would only add to their burden.
The associations emphasized that it’s high time institutions took their role in ensuring basic living conditions for tourists seriously, to avoid embarrassing the country in the eyes of its citizens and visitors alike. They urged decision-makers to address these issues promptly to boost Bulgaria’s tourism potential and reputation.
