Plans for around 150,000 additional airline seats between Germany and Bulgaria for the 2027 summer season do not guarantee a corresponding rise in German tourists visiting Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. The warning came from Ventsislav Tanchev, owner of a large hotel complex near the Bulgarian Black Sea town of Pomorie, during the HTIF International Hospitality and Tourism Forum, held from 12 to 14 October at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture.
The increase in airline capacity was announced in September by Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov as part of efforts to revive the German tourism market.
“These 150,000 seats are one-way. Hypothetically, that would allow an additional 75,000 tourists to come,” Tanchev explained. He warned that the availability of additional seats did not in itself mean they would be filled.
“First, there needs to be demand for these seats, and if it is not there by a certain point, some of the flights will be cancelled. So having the seats available is a good starting point, but it in no way guarantees more German tourists,” the hotelier stressed.
In his view, what matters is not only the number of airline seats, but also whether tourists can fly to Bulgaria from more airports and at convenient times.
Editor: Elena Karkalanova