In a televised interview, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov said he favored dropping concessions for Bulgarian beaches with the argument that the state earns too little from them. According to Simeonov, the concept of beach concessions is totally wrong because it allows concessionaires to earn ten times more than the state – the owner of beaches. Also he explained once again that beaches are the target of dubious economic interests. Currently long-term concessions have been granted for some of Bulgaria’s most attractive beaches. In 2017 alone contracts were signed for six beaches for a term of 20 years and sources from the Ministry of Tourism have said that new concessions are in the pipeline.