The chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Restaurants, Richard Alibegov, said on Bulgarian TV that a targeted negative campaign is being conducted against Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts, arguing that it does not reflect the actual situation on the ground. He stressed that tourist numbers in June are, in fact, slightly higher compared with the same period last year.
Alibegov noted that early June is traditionally a slow period for tourism, with the main influx of visitors typically beginning between June 15 and 20. He said the last two weekends on the southern Black Sea coast were particularly strong, adding that it is premature to describe the summer season as unsuccessful based on early-month data.
He also pointed out that there is currently limited clarity on trends in the northern Black Sea region, but warned that any potential decline in German tourists would require state-level solutions, particularly related to air connectivity. “This is an issue that must be resolved at the state level, especially regarding air connections,” he said.
Addressing what he described as coordinated negative messaging, Alibegov claimed that selective images and receipts are being circulated online to portray inflated prices and empty resorts, including photos taken at night or during off-peak hours. “There are thousands of restaurants and hotels, but a few receipts create the impression that prices are high everywhere,” he said, adding that even footage shot in the early hours was being used to misrepresent occupancy levels.