Eurovision News 
With Burgas officially confirmed as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, Bulgarian hoteliers are eagerly highlighting the immense tourism opportunities this presents. The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) sees the prestigious event as a prime chance to showcase the country’s hospitality, culture, and traditions to a global audience. This initiative aims to significantly enhance Bulgaria’s image as a premier tourist destination for years to come.
Following the exciting news that Burgas has been selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2027, hoteliers across Bulgaria are urging the country to fully capitalise on the significant tourism benefits. The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) emphasizes that hosting such a high-profile international event is a unique opportunity for the Black Sea city and the entire nation.
The BHRA believes that Eurovision 2027 provides an unparalleled platform to showcase Bulgaria’s renowned hospitality, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant traditions to millions of viewers and thousands of visitors from across Europe and beyond. This exposure is expected to dramatically improve Bulgaria’s international image and attract tourists for years to come, extending beyond the duration of the contest itself.
Beyond the immediate influx of fans, delegations, and media, the event is anticipated to deliver a substantial economic boost to Burgas and surrounding regions. Hoteliers are keen to ensure that strategic planning and collaborative efforts are in place to maximise accommodation, transport, and local business engagement, making the most of Bulgaria’s first-ever opportunity to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
Georgi Shterev (Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Chair) says:
We have a huge opportunity to showcase our country in all areas, and by 2028 we will really know whether we have succeeded. Experience shows that when similar events are organized successfully with the future in mind, growth in the tourism sector comes the following year.
Eurovision is an opportunity to develop the destination and extend the shoulder seasons, something we have been talking about for years. It is wonderful that Burgas has been chosen as the host, as this gives the entire region, and the whole Bulgarian Black Sea coast, a real chance to be in the spotlight and become more visible and recognizable.
BTA’s press release reads:
According to the BHRA chairman, it would be appropriate to consider improving transport links, including maritime transport connecting the various resorts and towns along the country’s seacoast. This would allow Eurovision 2027 visitors to see, for example, the Roman Baths and the world’s oldest gold in Varna, the Palace in Balchik, the Old Town of Nessebar and dozens other cultural attractions.
Hosting Eurovision 2027 will provide an opportunity to present Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast in a new way, something that has not been done for years, said Georgi Trapkov, a member of the BHRA’s Management Board and head of the organization’s branch in the seaside town of Pomorie. “This is a chance to show our hospitality to visitors who, all other things being equal, might otherwise never have come to Bulgaria,” Trapkov added.
The Burgas municipality organizing committee set up an informal advisory council when it first applied to host the contest and contacted many of the businesses in the region. Discussions have focused on how best to organize accommodation, transport, catering, associated events and party zones in order to add value to the event and ensure that all visitors leave with positive impressions of Burgas, the Black Sea coast and Bulgaria, Trapkov said.
Plans are also being considered for making use of all available transport options for reaching Burgas via the airports in Sofia and Istanbul. One competitive advantage of the Burgas region is that accommodation capacity in the Sunny Beach resort can be used, while there are more than 150,000 beds within just 20 kilometres of the city.
Trapkov stressed that authorities and businesses must work together in coordination to provide added value during the event and organize suitable associated events to showcase Bulgaria’s wealth, traditions, culture and tourism attractions. At the same time, he said, common sense must prevail and prices for related services must not be increased dramatically, as this could have the opposite effect.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2027 is scheduled to be held at Arena Burgas in Burgas on 11,13 and 15 May.
