FAQS
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Country entry restrictions
What are the entry regulations related to COVID-19?
The emergency state in Bulgaria has been prolonged until 30.04.21. For tourism purposes tourists arriving from 57 countries (stated below) can enter Bulgaria. Passengers arriving from those countries shall be admitted on the territory of the country upon submission of a document showing a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for proof of COVID-19 conducted up to 72 hours before entry into the country, as of the date of the study entered in the document. The test must be in English or Bulgarian.
1. Republic of Austria
2. The Kingdom of the Netherlands
3. The Federal Republic of Germany
4. Republic of Poland
5. Republic of Greece
6. The Kingdom of Denmark
7. Romania
8. Republic of Estonia
9. Republic of Slovakia
10. Republic of Slovenia
11. Hungary
12. Republic of Finland
13. Republic of Cyprus
14. Republic of France
15. Republic of Latvia
16. Republic of Croatia
17. Republic of Lithuania
18. Czech Republic
19. Republic of Portugal
20. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
21. Iceland
22. The Kingdom of Norway
23. Principality of Liechtenstein
24. Swiss Confederation
25. Republic of San Marino
26. Principality of Andorra
27. Principality of Monaco
28. Vatican City State
29. Republic of Malta
30. Republic of Italy
31. The Kingdom of Spain
32. Republic of Ireland
33. The Kingdom of Belgium
34. The Kingdom of Sweden
35. Australia
36. Canada
37. Georgia
38. Japan
39. New Zealand
40. Republic of Rwanda
41. Republic of Korea
42. The Kingdom of Thailand
43. Republic of Tunis
44. Eastern Republic of Uruguay
45. United Arab Emirates
46. Republic of Belarus
47. Republic of Serbia
48. Republic of Turkey
49. Republic of Northern Macedonia
50. Republic of Albania
51. Kosovo
52. Bosnia and Herzegovina
53. Montenegro
54. Republic of Moldova
55. Israel
56. Kuwait
57. Ukraine
This list shall be updated depending on the development of the pandemic situation.
Are there any measures taken at the airport upon arrival related to COVID-19?
YesStaff are on hand to guide passengers through the usual processes while wearing protective equipment.
Temperature checks & health screenings will be carried out for all domestic & international passengers upon entry into the terminals.
A Regional Health Inspectorate check point has been established.
Thermo-camera & passenger segregation facility available.
Increased frequency of cleaning & disinfection of all facilities & surfaces.
Air circulation management & rooftop filters cleaning in terminal facilities.
Positioning of floor markers for safe social distancing (a min 1.5m)
Usage of TV screens, Passenger Announcement System to communicate safety measures & COVID-19 awareness information.Will travellers be COVID-19 tested upon arrival?
NoIf a traveller tests positive to COVID-19 what happens?
NoA traveller will be quarantined.Do travellers need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result?
YesIf so, what is the maximum timeframe before arrival?
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for proof of COVID-19 has to be conducted up to 72 hours before entry into the country, as of the date of the study entered in the document.Do travellers need to provide personal data at the airport upon entry?
YesEach traveller should sign a declaration form when entering the country.H & S measures in general
Will employees generally have to be tested on Covid-19 before returning to work?
NoEmployees will have regular temperature checks & health screenings.Will you inform the traveller in case he has been close to an infected person in a hotel, transfer, Rep etc ?
YesLocal Health Care
Is there sufficient capacity in local health care facilities & UCI's?
YesDo they have international speaking staff at the hospitals?
YesMasks
Is it compulsory to wear masks?
YesThe use of mask is mandatory in all indoor premises including supermarkets, shops, malls, public transport, pharmacies, health institutions and night clubs.Do travellers have to always wear a mask?
NoDo travellers have to wear masks only if social distancing of min 1.5m cannot be assured?
YesDo kids over 6 years have to wear masks?
YesAre there any exceptions?
Non/aDoes a traveller have to bring his own mask or will they be provided (who will provide, when, how many, disposible or reusable), free of charge or with cost?
YesA traveller will have to bring their own personal protective equipment.Transfers
What measures are implemented related to transportation staff (e.g. temperature measure, COVID-Testing, training on new COVID-19 regulations, protocols, etc.)
YesHandwashing and respiratory hygiene
Wearing masks & gloves for the drivers on touristic transfers is not mandatory, but is rather a recommendation by the Regional Ministry of Health in Bulgaria. Transportation providers will follow the said recommendation to ensure the safety of the tourists.
Will there be disinfectant available on the bus?
YesAre there any special restrictions when using the transfer service? Limited occupation of the vehicles?
NoIs there an official record of the transfers being checked by the local authorities for having implemented & passed the compulsory measures?
NoHotel
Can we provide a list/summary of additioinal H & S measures that hotels have to comply with?
YesProviding at least 10% more face masks than the maximum capacity of guests and emergency staff.
Regulation and control of the flow of guests while maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5m between members of different families.
Placing dispensers with liquid hand disinfectants accessible to guests.
Registration at the reception of more than 2 guests at a time is not allowed, unless they are members of the same family.
Limiting the stay of the guest at the reception to a minimum.
Encouraging the use of an electronic card instead of paying in cash.
Seating area - Separate seating areas outdoors, outside the lobby, which must be at least 1.5m apart. Grouping of guests in the lobby is not allowed.
Maintaining the required distance between the housekeeping staff and the guests (a minimum of 2m).
What are the local legislations concerning the measures related to hotel staff (e.g. temperature measure, COVID testing, training on new COVID-19 regulations, protocols, etc.)?
YesHotel management must have carried out initial instructions of the employees on the observance of the sanitary and hygienic measures, as well as to hold regular information meetings about the undertaken main anti-pandemic measures in the country.
Creating working conditions, assuming compliance with the requirement for physical distance between employees and occupational safety in accordance with the applicable law.
Reducing the number of employees who use communal areas at the same time, such as a rest room, changing rooms.
Limiting the use of communal areas by employees, including:
introduction of different break hours,
reducing the number of employees who use communal areas at the same time (for example by allocating meals breaks).
Special care for employees from groups exposed to greater risk of the epidemic - if possible, people over 60 and chronically ill should engage nor have direct contact with guests.
Adoption of a procedure to be followed in case of suspicion of an infectious situation and effective instructions to the employees, in accordance with the guidelines and orders of the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Inspectorate.
Employees and staff of the establishment should be instructed that in case of symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, etc. they should not come to work. Instead they should stay at home and contact their personal doctor by phone, and in the absence of their doctor they will need to contact the Regional Health Inspectorate. If their health continues to deteriorate they would need to call 112 and inform them that they may have been infected with coronavirus.
If an employee has symptoms suggestive of coronavirus whilst at work, they should immediately be removed from their work duties, isolated and depending on their condition sent back home by individual transport or call the Emergency Medical Center team. The employee should wait for the transport in a room, where it is possible to temporarily isolate themselves from other people.
Does the country/destination have a 'H & S stamp' and/or do hotels need to apply for a new license to confirm compliance with local regulations?
NoIs there an official record of the hotels being checked by the local authorities for having implemented & passed the compulsary measures?
NoNonetheless, hotels must comply with the guidelines established by the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.Beach
Are there any special restrictions when using the beach?
YesAt the beach there should be a min of 20 sq m. per umbrella and 2 sunbeds or family. It is also forbidden to reserve sunbeds with a towel.Will beach access need a reservation and time slots?
NoAre there limitations for watersports?
NoSurrounding area
Will there be any local restrictions for movement outside of the hotel/resort?
NoAre guests allowed to leave the hotel/resort
YesAre local shops, restaurants, bars, service providers open?
NoCatering establishments are temporarily closed until 28.02.2021.
Only home and office delivery are allowed.
An exception is in place for tourism accommodations, where catering establishments are allowed to function between 06:00 and 22:00, using 50% of their capacity.Are public transportation and taxis available?
YesAre nightclubs open?
NoDo they have any restrictions?
Are amusement and shows offered?
NoAre there shopping malls and supermarkets open?
YesDo they have any restrictions?
Visits to shopping centres and shopping malls are suspended until 31.01.2021, except for grocery stores, hospitals, pharmacies, drugstores, opticians, pet stores. As of 1 February 2021, visits to shopping centers will be allowed.
As far as essential shops are concerned, people over the age of 65 can visit grocery stores and pharmacies only in the time slot between 08:30 and 10:30, during which all the other people under the age of 65 are not allowed.
A distance of 1.5 metres and the use of a facemask/safety helmet is required.
Are there any curfews in place and if so, what are the hours envolved?
NoExcursions
Will museums and exhibitions be open?
YesDo they have any restrictions?
Social distancing of a min of 1,5 m & wearing a mask.Will waterparks and themeparks be open?
YesDo they have any restrictions?
Aquaparks must comply with the special guidelines issued by the Regional Health Inspection, namely: specific points with alcohol disinfectants; the distance between umbrellas is 5m; the distance between sunbeds is 2m; increased concentration of chlorine in water.Will boat excursions be available?
YesDo they have any restrictions?
Wearing of masks is not compulsory ( since boat excursions is an "outside" excursion), but a recommendation to follow.Are diving centers open?
YesDo they have any restrictions?
However, MTS Globe Bulgaria do not offer diving activities.Covid-19 infection/outbreak
What does the traveller have to expect in destination in case of a Covid-19 infection?
YesIn case of clear signs of illness such as constant cough, discomfort, difficulty breathing, fever, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, etc. the guest shall be isolated and notified to the management, the doctor at the site or the medical institution with which the site has a service contract, the Regional Health Inspectorate or the Center for emergency medical care.
Please note: As per the latest protocol established by the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, upon establishing at the accommodation establishment a tourist with COVID-19, who has mild symptoms, the adopted practice in the countries of the European Union will be used. The guidelines in this part will be updated in stages until the beginning of the active summer season, according to the stages of opening the borders for travel with the respective countries. The specific steps that the hotelier must follow in such a case will be specified on the spot by the medical authorities, according to the individual case.Will the hotel be put under quarantine?
NoThe hotel shall not be quarantined and the recommendations of the health authorities shall be followed. After isolation/transportation of the guest, cleaning and disinfection shall be performed in the places where s/he has resided.Will affected guests be separated in a different properties (Corona Hotel) or stay in the booked property? What about their co-travelers?
YesIn case of suspicion of coronavirus infection of a guest the hotel should: provide the tourist with a mask, separate him from the other tourists and provide an opportunity to be examined by a doctor in a pre-designated room and appoint one person to take care of the guest concerned until the arrival of the health workers, but not different employees.Is it guaranteed that in case of a new Covid-19 outbreak there will be an early repatriation?
NoWho will arrange this/is responsible for it and who will cover the cost in such a case?
NoWho can the traveller contact in case of problems (Covid-19 related)? Will there be a local representative?
YesThey should self-isolate in the room and call the hotel reception, which in turn should notify the medical company which it has contracted with or the Regional Health Inspection or the ambulance (112).
