Varna

Recent inspections of nightclubs and tourist venues in Bulgaria have uncovered significant violations, including the absence of categorization, menus displaying available products, card payment terminals, and inaccurate information regarding the volumes of alcoholic beverages served.

The steady rise in housing prices in Bulgaria is no longer surprising, but what is noteworthy is a shift in the cities experiencing the fastest increases. Traditionally led by cities like Sofia, Varna, Burgas, or Plovdiv, Ruse has now unexpectedly jumped to the forefront in terms of price growth.

Nearly 900,000 Romanian tourists visited Bulgaria between January and July 2024, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva. Speaking to a group of Romanian journalists in Plovdiv, she noted that over 500,000 of these visits took place during the period from May to July.

A ship transporting pipes to Varna, Bulgaria, under a supply contract with the United States was struck during a Russian missile attack on the port of Odesa, according to Maritime.bg. The vessel, the Golden Lion, sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, sustained damage, and two sailors from its crew were injured.

Dr. Polina Karastoyanova, executive director of the National Board of Tourism, emphasized the critical need for the "Black Sea" highway during an appearance on bTV's morning program. She highlighted the necessity of establishing a direct connection between Constanta and Istanbul and promoting international airlines to operate flights to Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas airports.

A recent survey reveals that nearly one-third of Bulgarians are inclined towards authoritarian governance, including communism or military rule. The study, conducted by Alfa Research for the Foundation for Humanitarian and Social Research - Sofia, highlights a significant divide between urban and rural sentiments.

Following its announcement in late May regarding its interest in operating the Sofia to Burgas route with stops in Plovdiv and Stara Zagora, Pimk Rail Express is now seeking approval to extend its services to additional railway routes across Bulgaria.

Starting Monday, August 19, four of the newly delivered German passenger cars will be introduced on the high-speed train service between Sofia and Varna. The train will depart from Sofia's Central Station at 10:00 AM, and an additional four cars will be added to the high-speed train leaving Varna at 9:25 AM.

Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged Bulgarian President Rumen Radev not to approve the newly passed law banning the discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools. O'Flaherty made this appeal via a post on the "X" platform on Monday.

Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) has rolled out new digital devices for ticket sales on its busiest routes, including Sofia to Burgas and Sofia to Varna. These portable digital assistants (PDAs) are designed to prevent ticket duplication by connecting directly to the central ticketing system, which integrates with all stations nationwide.