Changes are needed in the legislative and regulatory framework to guarantee the sustainable development of camping tourism in our country with care for nature, it became clear during the meeting between the Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and the Chairman of the Association of Campsites in Bulgaria, Vesselin Valev.
According to the Association, out of 180 known campsites in Bulgaria, only 50 are legal, and almost 95% of the campsites in our country have one star, which creates a wrong impression among Western tourists. During the meeting, the need for a change in the legal framework was discussed, as in Bulgaria campsites are limited to a 3-star categorization, while in Europe the standard also includes 4- and 5-star campsites.
“Serious reforms are needed - from the issue of free camping and its regulation in Bulgaria, which is complex and requires a balanced approach, to the revision of the categorization of campsites so that they meet modern standards and expectations of tourists. This way of vacationing is being established as preferred at the international level and Bulgaria has the potential to become a competitive destination for camping tourism, but this requires clear rules and modern standards“, said Minister Borsos.
In addition, the need to reduce the requirements for the construction of campsites and create a manual for local authorities was emphasized to ensure that the permits issued correspond to the intended purpose of the terrain. The need for municipalities to unify camping rules was also expressed in order to facilitate the administrative process and provide clarity for investors and tourists. To address the problem of illegal campsites, the introduction of mandatory registration of overnight stays and reservations as part of the legal requirements was discussed.
Although only about 30% of campsites are located on the seashore, Valev stated that the rest offer unique opportunities for tourism inland - near rivers, dams and in mountainous areas.
Minister Borshosh expressed his commitment to the development of camping tourism and emphasized its importance for the economy, stating that camping is one of the most dynamically developing segments in tourism. The Ministry of Tourism will continue its active work with the sector to support the development of sustainable camping destinations and ensure high-quality conditions for tourists.
In this regard, from April 11 to 13, the largest camping tourism exhibition Camping&Caravaning Expo will take place, which the Ministry of Tourism supports for another year. Deputy Minister Pavlin Petrov will take part and open the official part of the program on Friday. Together with the organizers and representatives of the ministry, we will show visitors for the first time the paper edition of the new Camping Guide of Bulgaria for 2025. It contains all sites in the country with a valid tourist categorization “camping“ and registered in the National Tourist Register as of 01.01.2025.
The Camping Guide of Bulgaria for 2025 is a free publication, electronic and paper, published by Camping.BG with the support of the Ministry of Tourism.