Blue Flag Boost for the Black Sea: Forest Beach near Varna, Kranevo Central Beach, and Albena Beach (30th straight year) all earned Blue Flag status, while Varna’s Port Karantinata received the award for the first time—highlighting eco-friendly facilities, cleaner operations, and ongoing upgrades for the 2026 summer season. Tourism Sector Pressure: Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov says Bulgaria is “ready for tourists” but reports Eurostat data showing the country ranked last in EU tourist growth for Jan–Apr 2026 (down 4% vs EU +4.5%), blaming past spending on low-impact publicity and weak work on key markets like Germany and Romania. Roadworks Timing for Summer Travel: Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov says Black Sea coast road repairs will be finished within two weeks, aiming to avoid major disruption in July and August. Aviation Fans’ World-Record Attempt: Thousands watched at Gorna Oryahovitsa Airport as pilot Nikolay Kalaydzhiev tried to complete 1,000 take-offs and landings in 15 consecutive hours under Guinness supervision. Tourism Policy Coordination: The parliamentary tourism committee held its first meeting with the National Tourism Board to align long-term policies and improve cooperation between institutions and the sector. International Tourism Spotlight: Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister met UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais in Toledo, discussing projects like a quality-measurement observatory and a future Bulgaria-hosted investment forum.