Bulgaria reports seasonal labor growth and tourism recovery

Bulgaria is seeing significant developments in its tourism and labor sectors. According to data from the Employment Agency, 18,658 permits for 90-day seasonal employment for third-country nationals were registered for 2025. These workers primarily support the tourism, agriculture, and construction sectors during peak months. The highest concentrations of these workers are found in the Burgas, Varna, Pazardzhik, and Dobrich regions.

In the tourism sector, Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov reported that despite a difficult start to the summer season, the industry is recovering to levels seen last year. A key factor is the return of the German market, with an additional 100,000 to 150,000 flight seats negotiated for the next season, representing a 25-30% increase over the current year. This follows a previous loss of approximately 200,000 seats due to market conflicts.