POLICIES

NTB supports policies directed at the further development of Bulgarian tourism with a view to creating new job opportunities and improving local economies:
Draw up a new conceptual framework of the Tourism Act based on the principle of the separation of powers, in order to ensure that the regulator does not certify and supervise itself.
Clearly outline the state’s responsibility to manage the publicly-owned tourist attractions, thereby creating new jobs, both in the centre and in remote areas, where other economies are unable to create jobs.
Create a National Hoteliers and Restaurateurs Organisation from amongst all legal entities registered by the Ministry of Tourism, with a clear representation elected by congress, and a clear term and mandate of the managing bodies. The due procedure for its establishment, management and termination should be laid out in the Tourism Act.
Create a National Organisation of Tour Operators and Travel Agencies from amongst all legal entities registered by the Ministry of Tourism, with a clear representation elected by congress, and a clear term and mandate of the managing bodies. The due procedure for its establishment, management and termination should be laid out in the Tourism Act.
Discontinue the activity dealing with the classification of places of accommodation and the registration of tour operators and travel agents as extraneous for the government, said activity to be taken over by the national organisations. The National Organisation of Tour Operators and Travel Agents to assume management of a Guarantee Fund for the tour operators liability when organising package travel.
Create a National Organisation of Tour Guides from amongst all legal entities registered by the Ministry of Tourism, with a clear representation elected by congress, and a clear term and mandate of the managing bodies. The due procedure for its establishment, management and termination should be laid out in the Tourism Act.
Create a National Organisation of Mountain Guides and Ski Instructors from amongst all legal entities registered by the Ministry of Tourism, with a clear representation elected by congress, and a clear term and mandate of the managing bodies. The due procedure for its establishment, management and termination should be laid out in the Tourism Act.
Discontinue the activity dealing with the registration of tour guides, mountain guides and ski instructors as extraneous for the government, said activity to be taken over by the relevant national organisations.
Develop an action plan for occupational protection of tour guides, mountain guides and ski instructors through the mechanisms of the tourist police.
Reformulate the activities of the Tourism Regions Management Organisations by adopting a plan to build Tourism Business Parks to serve as links between the ecosystems – and the services they provide , and the business, based on increasing local production of fruit and vegetables and their consumption at the eating and recreation establishments, thus creating the conditions for voluntary payments for ecosystem services on the part of the business.
Set up a healthcare voucher scheme for better utilisation of the abundant mineral water resources available, for the benefit of the public.
Prepare a regulatory framework for the setting up of Regional Air Travel Development Funds to stimulate the formation of transport hubs and attract tourists outside of the high season.
Help business to increase direct hotel digital sales (HeBS Digital and AirBnB).
Use the instruments of tourism to set up free stages on the territories of the municipalities – a Cooperatives for Arts platform, for sharing visual art, literature, music, dance and theatre.
Draw up a procedure for the selection of National Treasure No. 1 and include the publicly-owned tourist attractions in a National Register of Tourist Attractions.
Support for the proposal of the National Tourism Board and the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism that the average gross salary should reach €1,400 per month by 2026. Also, the industry must reinforce its commitment to the training and requalification of its middle- and top-level management staff.
Support for the launch of the Integrated Tourism Information System (ITIS), which the Minister of Tourism will use to develop and maintain a National Tourism Register, and which will provide a real-time connection between the hotel registers and the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of the Interior, the National Revenue Agency, and the municipalities. We expect the launch in 2017 to shed some light on the ‘shadow’ areas in the sector and help bring in higher tax revenue gains.