2024-04-23 16:40:30
At a meeting at the Ministry of Tourism, specific measures were discussed with the control authorities on the eve of the summer tourist season
Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev participated in a working meeting to discuss measures against the gray economy, organized travel, unregulated activities of tour operators and tour guides, and illegal practices in the tourism sector in general, the press center of the Ministry of Tourism announced.
Minister Evtim Miloshev spoke with representatives of the Commission for Consumer Protection, Executive Agency “Automotive Administration”, Economic Police – GDNP and National Revenue Agency. The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, as well as experts engaged by the Ministry, participated in the meeting.
Minister Miloshev emphasized that it is important to do the maximum within the existing legislation and regulation in order to protect the interests of Bulgarian citizens, those legally working in the sector and tourists during the upcoming active season. He got acquainted with some of the problems and difficulties that control bodies and experts encounter and expressed readiness for maximum assistance.
“Our appeal is for you to strengthen inspections so that the summer tourist season can proceed smoothly”, urged Minister Miloshev and stated: “The topic is hot and that is why we have gathered here not to ascertain things, but to raise awareness and act preventively with the united efforts of the various institutions so that the checks can have the expected disciplinary effect.”
The minister emphasized good coordination at the inter-institutional level, and the main thing will be to preserve the interest of tourists.
The meeting was initiated after representatives of the tourism business expressed their concerns about the growth of the gray sector and the growth of unfair practices in the field of tourism. In letters to the Ministry of Tourism, the Union of Tour Guides in Bulgaria, the Association of Tour Guides in Bulgaria and the Southeast Union of Tour Guides “Vanya Raykova” requested “the performance of subsequent control of the tour guides for compliance with the requirements of the Tourism Law”.
At today’s meeting, concrete steps for the next two months were discussed and drawn up. The Ministry of Internal Affairs expressed readiness for assistance in carrying out joint inspections with the various control authorities.