Border & Transport: Bulgaria is pushing to speed up the new Kapitan Andreevo–North heavy-goods crossing with Türkiye, with both sides ready to sign soon—aimed at cutting delays at the EU’s busiest land border. Tourism Markets: Bulgaria will strengthen ties with Poland at a tourism business forum in Sunny Beach on Sept 15, targeting more year-round offers beyond seaside holidays and aiming for 800,000 Polish visitors annually by 2029. Hospitality & Prices: Restaurant associations in Bulgaria are again asking for lower VAT as prices rise, while the government says businesses should cut nominal prices instead of changing the tax rate. Travel Demand & Air Travel: Eurocontrol reports Europe hit record summer skies with 35,959 flights a day on average, though Bulgaria saw lower traffic amid the Middle East war. Accommodation Performance: July overnight stays in Bulgaria fell 5.4% year-on-year, but revenue rose 11.4%, with foreign guests driving much of the earnings. Seasonal Work: Non-EU labour authorizations in 2025 were mostly seasonal or short-term, with tourism and agriculture among the main sectors. New Route: GullivAir plans direct Malé–Sofia flights from Nov 6, 2026, running weekly through the winter season. Culture for Visitors: Belgrade’s Bitef festival starts Sept 13, with a Bulgarian selection and ticket availability still reported for most shows. Local Travel Safety/Disruption: A fire broke out at EMKO military storage facilities near Gorni Varpishta, with roads closed and police warning the public to stay away.