Bulgarian tour operators and travel agents are hoping the new parliament will reconsider the decision to revert to the higher VAT (20%) for the industry as of 1 July. They are insisting that tourist packages be subject to 9% VAT until the end of 2024, as has been the case for restaurant operators.
“Unless that happens we shall have to pay hundreds of thousands of leva to make up for the difference up to 20% because the tourist packages were sold last year, budgeting for a VAT rate amounting to 9% and we cannot update prices now,” said Dimitrina Goranova, chair of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents in an interview with the Bulgarian news agency BTA.
A lower VAT rate was introduced three years ago as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic but tour operators say they have not yet reached 2019 levels, and are insisting that the 9% VAT rate for the industry remain in place.
In the first half of 2025, the Bulgarian capital city marked an 11% increase in tourists, compared to the same period in 2024, BTA reports, citing data from the municipal website Visit Sofia. For the period January-June, the city was..
The State Agency for Refugees is launching a pilot project for the country and the EU. Alternative social services for unaccompanied refugee children are being created, the government's press service has reported. The..
Public procurement tenders have been announced for the final 2.4 km of the railway line from Gyueshevo to North Macedonia, as well as for the Sofia–Radomir section. The total value of the tenders exceeds EUR 279 million, and the completion deadline is..
Three helicopters arrived at Plovdiv Airport under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. One came from Hungary, the second from Slovakia, and the..
Those detained for committing arson will be tried for terrorism, announced Interior Ministry Secretary General Miroslav Rashkov. He noted that..
''At least 870 people could benefit from the 'I Choose Bulgaria' initiative, which aims to attract them back to Bulgaria from abroad. Most of them will..
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder