The Ministry of Tourism has published changes to the Law on Tourism regarding the establishment of the Tourist Guarantee Fund

The Ministry of Tourism publishes for public discussion a draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Tourism, which concerns the creation of a Tourist Guarantee Fund. The proposed draft of the ZID of TZ proposes changes in the national legislation related to the Directive (EU) 2015/2302 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 25, 2015, transposed in 2018, on package travel and related travel services.

The directive harmonises the safeguard scheme for the protection of consumers in cases where organizers of package tourism services (tour operators) declare bankruptcy.

The current draft amendment to the Law on Tourism ensures the upgrading of the existing security regime for users of tour operator services, through the construction of a comprehensive new security scheme, including mandatory participation in the Tourist Guarantee Fund (TGF). It will complement and provide additional users of package travel services in the event of bankruptcy of tour operators/tour operators.

With the draft law, it is proposed that the Tourist Guarantee Fund be based on the system concept of tripartite protection - preventive (Pillar I), insurance or bank guarantee (Pillar II) and participation of tour operators in a guarantee fund (Pillar III).

You can get acquainted with the proposed changes here and here, and you can send proposals and opinions until September 2, 2024, including to the following email address: edoc@tourism.government.bg.