Is security of the tourists visiting the Bulgarian Black Sea coast guaranteed for the new summer season? The answer to this key question was summarized in five concrete measures launched by Bulgaria’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Tsvetlin Yovchev. He met with the ambassadors of countries which are expected to bring the highest tourist flow to Bulgaria this summer such as Great Britain, Austria, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Romania, etc. Nearly 5% of Bulgaria’s annual gross domestic product is formed from revenues from the tourism field. The revenues in the last winter season marked a 2.5% increase. What are the expectations about the forthcoming summer season?

When the weather warms up, a new migration pressure is likely to be exerted over the country from refugees coming from Syria, the Middle East and North Africa. Nearly eleven thousand refugees have already come to Bulgaria in 2013. Some of them are potentially dangerous for the country’s national security. On the other hand, the situation in Bulgaria’s Black Sea neighbor Ukraine is becoming tenser. Bulgaria can not rule out the possibility that the tension in Ukraine may be transferred to its territory through the traditionally big flow of Ukrainian and Russian tourists. The memories of the terrorist act on July 18, 2012 at Burgas Airport are still fresh. Five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver were killed during the blast. Another thirty five Israeli tourists were wounded. Visitors from Israel are expected to arrive for the new summer season as well. Can they rest peacefully?

“Currently there is no direct threat over foreign tourists stemming from the refugee crisis, the increased migratory pressure, or from the situation in Ukraine”, Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev told Radio Bulgaria. “We have undertaken concrete security measure as a result of the analysis of the terrorist attack at Burgas Airport. We have also made a detailed analysis of the system’s weak points in the past and the possible improvements in this respect. We have undertaken the necessary steps and the district departments of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior are currently taking additional measures at places where an increased flow of foreign tourists is expected during the summer. We also instruct hotel owners and managers how to instruct tourists about their security. We have also undertaken measures for ensuring enhanced police presence and improving the work and the organization of the National Police. We are also to install at some places additional surveillance devices such as cameras, illumination, etc. The security measures in 2014 will be much stronger as compared to last year. I hope that they will guarantee better safety of both the foreign tourists and the Bulgarian citizens.”

Besides, the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior is planning to make changes in the patrol and the guard activities and send more policemen to boost security in the country. The ministry is also to launch special brochures containing information about the potential dangers the tourists can face, emergency telephone numbers, etc. The Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior will provide officers who speak foreign languages and more translators if necessary. According to the Ambassador of Great Britain to Bulgaria Jonathan Allen those quick and simple decisions can guarantee foreign tourists’ security in Bulgaria. The new measures correspond to the recommendation given by the foreign ambassadors two years ago and are a result of the joint efforts between the Bulgarian authorities and the diplomats of the countries with increased number of tourists visiting Bulgaria. As the Interior Minister’s meeti8ng with foreign ambassadors tooko place shortly before Easter, Ambassador Allen took the opportunity to greet all Bulgarians for the big Christians Feast- Easter which is celebrated in 2014 by Catholics and Orthodox Christians on the same date.

“I would like to say Happy Easter to everyone. We want many of our tourists to visit Bulgaria, to be happy and satisfied here and of course spend lots of money in this country. We would also like to see them going back home safe and secure”, said Ambassador Jonathan Allen.

Let us all hope that the new summer season will be really good and secure.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov