State Gazette No 71 of 23 June 1998

Law on Tourism

I. Scope of the Law:

The Law provides for the State policy in the field of tourism, organisations, conditions, procedures and control of tourist business.

• Tourism is a business activity, intended for establishment, supply and realization of goods and services, included in a tourist product
• Tourist activities are: hoteliership, restaurant catering, tour-operating and tour agency as well as supply of supplementary tourist services

II. Conditions and Procedures for Engaging in Tourist Business

• Licensing
• Merchants, engaged in tourist business, shall be licensed by the Minister of Trade and Tourism.
• Foreign person or branch of a foreign person can be engaged in tourist business on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria after
  • registration as a merchant
  • licensing under this Law
  • observing the conditions of the Law on Foreign Investments
• Categorization of hotels and restaurants
• The Law provides for the procedure of forming and offering of tourist packages

III. Financial support

1. The State promotes tourist development through financial support of national and regional advertising campaign, market researches, information, analysis in the field of tourism and establishment of tourist information desks
2. Municipal tourist development funds can be formed upon a decision of the Municipal Council

IV. Institutions for Control on Tourism

• National Level
  1. Minister of Trade and Tourism
  2. National Council on Tourism, established by this Law advisory body with the Ministry of Trade and Tourism
• Regional Level
  1. Mayor of Municipality
  2. Local Tourist Organisation
  3. Regional Tourist Organisation

For detailed information please contact Consultancy and Information Bureau at BCCI
tel: (+359 2) 987 78 26; fax: (+359 2) 987 32 09; E-mail: bcci@bcci.bg