Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariana Nikolova issues an order, which introduces uniform rules for the anti-epidemic and sanitary rules in tourist sites for the upcoming summer season in 2021. The goal is to introduce the same practices that ensure the well-being of all tourists and places. The Minister's top priority is Bulgaria to reclaim its status as a safe destination.
All issued regulations are in line with the anti-epidemic measures, incl. the temporary anti-epidemic measures, ordered by the Minister of Health. The order concerns everyone carrying out activity in the tourist area which is considered a public, commercial site in the sense of the Health Act.
The order complies with all necessary global requirements: The Operational considerations for COVID – 19 (MN); the Guidelines for the functioning of food and entertainment establishments (ZHR) & all regulations concerning related establishments; the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Center for Infection Prevention and Control and Commission Communication COVID-19.
The regulations apply to all tourism sectors: the Black Sea, mountains, cultural-, and wellness tourism (spa, medical, etc.), rural, wine, eco, congress activities, children and youth camps, sports, hunting, golf, and others.
The order is coordinated with the Ministry of Health and published on the website of the Ministry of Tourism. If necessary, the measures will be adapted or supplemented depending on the situation.
The measures cover the activities of accommodation, catering, activities related to them, as well as the procedures in case of suspicion of infection; the plan for transferring the tourists, and their transportation by bus. The rules also regulate the safeguarded beaches, with a physical distance of at least 1.5 m between the beachgoers. In free beach areas, every 20 square meters can accommodate 2 or more people. The order foresees the number of people using an umbrella.
The rules are in force starting May 1st, and Deputy Prime Minister Mariana Nikolova explained that by then the business must introduce the specific conditions for adopting the new regulations. She added: "With the support of the Ministry of health, we have managed to submit the applications and plan the vaccination of the employees in the sector. According to her, out of approximately 150,000 people working in the tourism sector - currently, 82,000 are willing to be vaccinated.
