Bulgaria’s Summer-Driven Tourism Faces Rising Costs and Staffing Challenges
Sofia, The Gulf Observer: Approximately 70% of Bulgaria’s tourism income is generated during the summer months, underscoring the industry’s high seasonality. However, a new survey by the Bulgarian Association of Professionals in Hotel Management (BAHE) suggests mixed results for hoteliers in the first half of 2025.
According to the survey conducted at the end of June, only about one-third of hotel operators reported better business compared to last year. Another third indicated stable employment levels, while around 20% saw a 10% increase in staffing, and a similar percentage noted a 10% decrease.
Hotel occupancy remains modest ahead of the peak season. Employment rates in most hotels ranged between 30% and 50%, with one-third of establishments reporting occupancy between 50% and 70%. Meanwhile, about 20% of hotels operated below 30% occupancy.
Georgi Duchev, Executive Director of BAHE, explained in an interview with BNR that these numbers reflect early-year performance and don’t yet capture the full impact of the lucrative summer period. He highlighted the strong seasonality in the tourism sector, with summer contributing the bulk of annual earnings.
In terms of pricing, nearly 40% of hotels have set nightly rates between 100 and 200 BGN, while a third offer rates below 100 BGN. Around 45% of hoteliers have increased room rates by up to 10% compared to last year, while 40% have kept prices stable, expecting only slight increases by the end of the year.
Despite a modest revenue increase of about 10% in the first half of 2025, operational costs have risen more sharply — between 10% and 20% — with some properties reporting even higher expenses. Cautious optimism prevails for the remainder of the year: 40% of hoteliers expect up to 10% revenue growth, and 30% foresee no major change.
The most pressing concern remains the ongoing staff shortage. Duchev noted that wages in the sector are likely to rise further and that initiatives are underway to train young professionals through internships and temporary job programs.
