Beach equipment prices this summer will remain unchanged. Most concessionaires have already reached the maximum levels allowed in their contracts. This practically limits the possibility of a new increase in the price of the shade. The Ministry of Tourism will announce the official rates on its website by the end of the month.
The specific amounts vary according to the location of the respective beach. In Sunny Beach, tourists will pay 5.11 euros for an umbrella or sunbed. On Nessebar “South” and “Harmanite” beaches in Sozopol, the price is 4.9 euros. Central Beach in Sozopol offers slightly lower rates of €3.58 per item. The cheapest remains the shadow of Burgas “North”, where the fee is only 60 euro cents. At Kraimorie beach, the price is fixed at 5 euros.
Nikolay Dimitrov, Kraimorie concessionaire, explains to BNT the situation with fixed costs. He emphasizes that rents to the state are indexed every year. However, the price to the end user often remains unchanged due to contractual restrictions.
“It should have been 5.11 euro cents, because that’s how it is in my contract. I made it 5 euros for an umbrella and 5 euros for a lounger, and I want to emphasize that this price includes both the tables and the tablecloths. They are completely free, they are calculated in the set. The fact is that for years our contracts have been indexed to the inflation index, and we pay a higher rent every year with accumulation from the previous years. But the price of the paid service – umbrella and lounger – is fixed. It cannot be exceeded. At the same time, the rents are increasing every year.”
From June 1, the beaches officially become protected areas. Concessionaires appoint the required number of lifeguards and medical teams. Bulgaria is the only country that maintains mandatory resuscitation stations on the beach itself. This significantly increases the security of visitors, although it represents a significant cost to the business.
“That is, we will appoint the appropriate number of lifeguards, and there will be resuscitators and medical personnel at the resuscitation points. I would like to emphasize that only in Bulgaria there are resuscitation stations and medical personnel on the beaches. There are none anywhere else in the world. This is another contribution to the security and safety of people. It is an expense, but we have accepted it because it is included in the contract,” he says.
Despite the general shortage of personnel, some beaches are fully manned. Specialized courses for new lifeguards are held in Kraimorie. Most trainees choose to work in the same lane after successfully completing training.
Research shows that Bulgaria remains a cheaper destination compared to its neighbors. Prices of beach services are lower compared to Greece and Turkey. The maximum prices of the sets of the most expensive stripes reach around 23 euros. In most places, however, the amounts remain in the range between 15 and 18 euros for a complete set. Concessionaires are now switching to Euro prices with convenient rounding for tourists.
