Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Tourist industry wants lower VAT to remain in place

Dimitrina Goranova
Photo: BTA

Bulgarian tour operators and travel agents are hoping the new parliament will reconsider the decision to revert to the higher VAT (20%) for the industry as of 1 July. They are insisting that tourist packages be subject to 9% VAT until the end of 2024, as has been the case for restaurant operators.

“Unless that happens we shall have to pay hundreds of thousands of leva to make up for the difference up to 20% because the tourist packages were sold last year, budgeting for a VAT rate amounting to 9% and we cannot update prices now,” said Dimitrina Goranova, chair of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents in an interview with the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

A lower VAT rate was introduced three years ago as a temporary measure during the Covid pandemic but tour operators say they have not yet reached 2019 levels, and are insisting that the 9% VAT rate for the industry remain in place.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Admiral Emil Eftimov

Bulgaria's Chief of Defense Emil Eftimov to present an analysis of the state of the Armed Forces

The annual conference of Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov will take place from February 25 to 26, 2025. Today, Admiral Eftimov will present the "Analysis of the state and preparedness of the Armed Forces in 2024." Defense Minister..

published on 2/25/25 7:10 AM

Goethe Institut Bulgaria hosts a discussion on the potential of culture to counter youth aggression

Goethe Institut Bulgaria and Ideas Factory Association are organizing a discussion on the role of culture as a means of countering violence and youth aggression. The event will take place from 16.0 pm to 18.00 pm at Goethe Institut Bulgaria. The open..

published on 2/25/25 6:00 AM

Temperatures are expected to rise on Tuesday

On Tuesday , the minimum temperatures in Bulgaria will be between minus 5 and 0°C, in the northeast - as low as minus 11°C. In Sofia, it will be around minus 3°C.  In the morning, fog is possible near the rivers. During the day, there will be light..

published on 2/24/25 7:25 PM