Bulgaria boasts all the ingredients for a thriving tourism industry, according to Meglena Plugchieva, Ambassador of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA). However, she voiced concerns about the significant hurdles hindering both Bulgarian businesses and foreign tourists, particularly the cumbersome and time-consuming process of obtaining tourist visas.
These concerns were highlighted during a panel discussion at the 11th annual BUBSPA congress in Burgas, where representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bulgarian Hospital Association gathered to address crucial issues. The discussion centered around attracting tourists and recruiting workers from third countries, an increasingly complex challenge in the wake of Bulgaria’s partial accession to the Schengen Area.
Plugchieva emphasized that Bulgaria’s recent entry into the Schengen zone through air and water travel has actually exacerbated staffing shortages in the tourism sector. She explained that consular services, burdened by various factors, have experienced a decline in capacity over recent years. This means that many consulates struggle to process the rising volume of visa applications.
Beyond the bottleneck at the consular level, the process of obtaining work visas involves multiple Bulgarian institutions, resulting in protracted delays. Plugchieva stressed the need for better coordination between these institutions to streamline the process.
Adding to the complexity, official statistics reveal a troubling trend. While Bulgaria has joined the “air Schengen,” many workers from third countries are using the country as a temporary stop before moving on to other destinations, primarily in Western Europe. In fact, a staggering 40% of workers arriving in Bulgaria ultimately leave.
The reliance on a registration-only regime for recruiting workers from third countries poses another significant challenge. This reliance requires a shift in approach, according to Plugchieva, who urged the institutions to address this crucial issue.
