Following a significant oil spill in the Kerch Strait, Bulgarian authorities seek to dispel fears about risks to the summer tourist season, according to Euractiv.
Sofia assures that the fuel oil spill from the crashed Russian tankers will not reach Bulgaria’s shores.
In December, two Russian oil tankers crashed in the Kerch Strait, spilling about 5,000 tonnes of oil into the sea. However, Bulgarian Environment Minister Manol Genov said there was no danger of the fuel oil reaching Bulgarian Black Sea waters.
Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh called the media reports “malicious,” adding that the government continued efforts to maintain Bulgaria’s status as a safe destination.
Tourism accounts for 7 per cent of the country’s GDP but has faced tough times in the past two years due to concerns over the Black Sea’s water purity.
Bulgaria expects more tourists from Romania and Moldova at its seaside resorts and more Greek tourists at its mountain resorts after joining the Schengen area on 1 January 2025.
