“Bulgaria is in the dark-red Covid zone. Tourism is affected by this. There are two months to go until the start of the winter season and the situation could improve,” Rumen Draganov from the Institute for Analysis and Assessment in Tourism commented for Nova TV. “It all depends on the rate of vaccination.”

Rumen Draganov added that he was worried that because of the deteriorating health situation, the other countries may impose restrictions on people travelling to Bulgaria. This will mean foreign tourists will choose not to come to Bulgaria’s resorts which are still the cheapest in Europe.

In Bansko hotel operators are in no hurry to make predictions but they say that due to the vaccine hesitancy there will be staff shortages. But the hope is that, in spite of everything, there will be a winter season.