Restaurant, Hotel Owners Demand 9% VAT Rate Reinstated at Rally In Sofia

Representatives of the hospitality industry on Wednesday held a national protest in Sofia demanding the return of the 9% VAT rate for the industry in front of the building of Parliament. Afterwards, protesters headed to the Eagles Bridge.

The protest was held under the motto “Politicians, don’t kill Bulgarian tourism, don’t turn off our lights forever”. The organizers are the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Bulgarian Association of Establishments and the Association of Establishments in Bulgaria.

People came from many towns in the country to participate in the protest, including Sandanski, Haskovo Targovishte, Plovdiv. There are also foreigners – workers in the hotel business from Nepal, India and countries of the former Soviet Union.

Spokespersons at the rally said that in Bulgaria’s neighbouring countries VAT on tourism is lower. In Greece the tax is 13%, in Romania – 9%, in Serbia – 10%. According to them, tourism in Bulgaria is developing despite politicians, not thanks to them.

The VAT rate for the industry was reduced from 20% to 9% as a measure to save the sector from the restrictions introduced because of the COVID pandemic. With the adoption of the 2025 budget, VAT for the industry has returned to 20%.