Covid-19 morbidity in Bulgaria continues to decrease

Varna welcomes first tourists from Israel

The first 166 tourists from Israel have arrived in Varna,BGNES reports. After being resumed, there are now flights from Israel to Varna once a day, with the exception of Saturday. 19 Tel Aviv-Varna flights have been scheduled until the end of August, and 60 in September. In Bourgas there will be daily flights from and to Israel as of 23 August, until the end of the month. In September there will be flights Thursday to Sunday, with the Bulgarian airline flying to Tel Aviv as of the beginning of the month.Israel is a key market for Bulgaria’s tourist industry. More than 300,000 Israeli tourists visit the country every year, BGNES writes. 

Serbia no longer requires PCR tests from persons traveling in transit from Bulgaria

Persons who travel in transit through the territory of Serbia from Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and North Macedonia are not obliged anymore to present a negative PCR tests if their travel through Serbia does not exceed 12 hours, BTA informs. The decision was published by the Serbian authorities on August 20. In all other cases, entry into the territory of Serbia from Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia and Croatia is possible only after passengers present a negative PCR tests performed up to 48 hours prior to entry by accredited national laboratories.

Strict Covid-19 measures introduced at stadiums

In its rules and regulations for the new season the Bulgarian Football Union introduces penalties connected with Covid-19. They concern the behavior of fans at stadiums in the conditions of state of emergency or emergency epidemic situation. According to the measures, a club can be penalized to play in an empty stadium for up to 5 matches, plus a fine of 1,000 Leva. According to the Bulgarian Football Union, penalties can be imposed after a report is submitted by a public authority, Dnevnik reports.

Number of tourism trips by Bulgarians drop dramatically

447,200 Bulgarians travelled to tourist destinations during the second quarter of the year, BTA reports. Only 6.8 % of them travelled abroad, 92.7% travelled inside Bulgaria only, and 0.5% made trips inside the country as well as to other countries. 

Business again raises issue of visas for tourists from key markets

In September Bulgaria is to begin preparations for summer 2021 against the backdrop of weak 2020 summer tourist season caused by the coronavirus pandemic, this country’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism Mariana Nikolova pointed out at a meeting with business representatives at the coastal town of Obzor. Next month, the Consultative Council that is expected to prepare an action plan for the forthcoming winter and summer tourist seasons will be established, Minister Nikolova announced.The procedure for issuance of visas to tourists from key tourist markets should be discussed, the business pointed out at the meeting.

Bulgaria registers decline in new Covid-19 cases

142 new Covid-19 have been registered in Bulgaria over the past 24 hours, out of 6,844 PCR tests performed, according to data of the Single Information Platform. 766 patients with Covid-19 are in hospital, of them 63 are in ICU. 5 have died over the past 24 hours. 

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Compiled by: Diana Tsankova