Ministry of Tourism Accelerates Hospitality Approvals for 14 Million Visitors as Commercial Airlines Expand Sofia-Burgas Flight Frequencies

New investment reforms are now focused on Sofia, Bulgaria, where the Ministry of Tourism is developing an accelerated mechanism for better coordination between authorities regarding new hospitality projects. Based on information announced by the Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov on 12 October 2026, the Bulgarian authorities intend to unite relevant institutions and introduce a more transparent model of investment for investors. The Minister announced the High-Level Interregional Tourism Forum Europe-Asia in Podgorica, Montenegro. The accelerated mechanism is intended to address investment applications more efficiently and reduce administrative uncertainties for investors regarding projects in Bulgaria. It has yet to be formalised as an operational digital approval framework. The Ministry’s announcement refers to efforts towards an accelerated administrative mechanism rather than a fully implemented approval system that has completed all administrative requirements. The initiative is part of a broader government strategy to increase investment into hotel, resort and wellness developments, cultural tourism assets and conference provision.


Furthermore, the government is pushing for higher levels of cooperation between national authorities, municipal bodies and investors. Bulgaria has a number of mature markets for the potential development of tourism services. Sofia is home to business visitors, cultural tourists and international congress and conference visitors, while Plovdiv is developing tourism based on its mixed offering of Historic town and city visits, combined with events and gastronomy, at international congress level. Along the Black Sea coast, Burgas, Varna, Nessebar and Sozopol provide a mix of coast-focused accommodation, historic sites and seasonal leisure activities. The country’s mountain resorts provide opportunities for investment in winter sports, health and wellness tourism and accommodation throughout the year. UN Tourism’s January 2026 investment outlook for Bulgaria indicates that the country hosted 13.3 million international tourists in 2024, 5.6 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. International tourism revenues reached an estimated US$4.3 billion in the same year. More recent domestic data also reveal relatively high levels of activity: historical data released by the National Statistical Institute and presented by the government show that accommodation establishments registered 5.2 million arrivals, including 2.2 million foreigners, in the period of January to July 2026. The government has another set target for the coming years: raise the number of foreign tourists, currently around four million per year, to eight million per year in its current term.

Sofia-Burgas Winter Flights Strengthen Access to Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast

Bulgaria’s domestic aviation network is receiving additional seasonal support as national carrier Bulgaria Air prepares to maintain scheduled services between Sofia and Burgas throughout the 2026-27 winter season.

The airline announced on September 25 that the route would operate three times weekly from November 1, with departures scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The services will be operated using Airbus A220-100 aircraft, with one-way economy fares starting at approximately €78.

The decision is particularly relevant to Burgas, which traditionally experiences stronger visitor demand during the summer holiday season. Maintaining an air connection with Sofia during winter provides another travel option for residents, business passengers and visitors exploring Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea region.

Burgas is an important gateway to several coastal destinations, including Nessebar, Sunny Beach, Sozopol and Pomorie. The city also offers access to cultural attractions, coastal parks, museums and nearby nature reserves.

Travellers arriving at Burgas Airport can reach the city centre by road, while the surrounding coastal resorts are accessible through regional bus services, taxis and private transfers.

The airline has also announced plans to increase Sofia-Burgas services between May 2 and May 19, 2027, with up to two daily flights planned during the period. The additional capacity is intended to accommodate visitors travelling for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, which Bulgaria is scheduled to host.

This seasonal expansion could support accommodation providers, restaurants, transport operators and tourism businesses across the southern Black Sea coast.

The winter route also complements Bulgaria’s broader efforts to reduce the concentration of tourism activity within the traditional summer season. Bulgaria Air+1

Bulgaria Seeks to Extend Its Tourism Season Beyond Summer Holidays

The investment and aviation developments form part of Bulgaria’s wider ambition to establish itself as a year-round European tourism destination.

During the Long Summer and Hospitable Sea national tourism forum in Tsarevo on September 19, the Ministry of Tourism highlighted transport connectivity, regional promotion and cultural events as important elements of extending the country’s tourism season.

The government reported more than 11 million overnight stays and over three million tourists between May and July 2026. Revenue from overnight stays increased by 13 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Preliminary registrations from accommodation establishments exceeded 7.3 million between January and mid-September, according to the Unified Tourist Information System.

These figures demonstrate the scale of Bulgaria’s accommodation market, although tourist registrations, international border visits and overnight stays measure different aspects of tourism activity and should not be treated as interchangeable.

The country has several opportunities to distribute visitor demand across different seasons.

In Sofia, attractions include Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Palace of Culture and the historic city centre. Plovdiv offers Roman archaeological remains, the Old Town and cultural festivals. Meanwhile, the Black Sea coast attracts visitors through beaches, maritime heritage and historic settlements.

Winter tourism is another established market. Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo attract international visitors through skiing, mountain accommodation and wellness facilities.

Cultural and heritage tourism also provides opportunities outside the summer season. Bulgaria has ten UNESCO World Heritage properties, including the Rila Monastery, Boyana Church and the Ancient City of Nessebar.

The Ministry is also pursuing stronger international cooperation through tourism education, destination marketing and partnerships with major travel companies.

In September 2026, Bulgaria signed a long-term memorandum with TUI Group aimed at increasing annual tourist numbers travelling through the operator to 400,000 by 2030. Ministry of Tourism+2

Improved Connectivity and Hospitality Investment Shape Bulgaria’s Tourism Outlook

The tourism investment measures and winter schedule both meet two of Bulgaria’s major requirements to develop its tourism: investors require consistent administrative processes, and tourists require reliable transport connections and accommodation facilities through all seasons. As the main international aviation gateway to Bulgaria, Sofia Airport maintains the country’s primary connections with other major European airports. Burgas Airport is the main air traffic hub of Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea tourism area, while Varna Airport facilitates travel to the northern coast. The year-round extension of the Sofia-Burgas flights provides a further domestic linkage between the capital and the Black Sea region, although the three-times-weekly announced service is a seasonal extension rather than a known increment to the current weekly schedules. The prospect of Bulgaria’s tourism visitors travelling between coasts, historic urban centres, mountain destinations and wellness resorts demonstrates the potential for multi-site holidays in the country, while the next steps in the tourism investment programme, along with the expansion of air traffic capacity, will prove key to Bulgaria’s ability to convert its tourism investment programme into ongoing demand.

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