As Bansko’s ski season approaches, the popular Bulgarian resort is facing a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled staff to support its hospitality sector.
With a surge of tourists expected, many hotels and restaurants are scrambling to fill vital roles. To address the gap, numerous business owners have turned to workers from outside the European Union, including countries like India, Tajikistan, and Ukraine, to meet the demand for service personnel.
The decision to hire foreign workers is proving to be both beneficial and challenging for local businesses. While this influx is helping to fill critical positions, the language barrier limits the types of roles these employees can effectively take on.
As a result, foreign hires are frequently assigned to positions where minimal customer interaction is required, such as housekeeping, maintenance, or valet services.
Larger hotels and restaurants are particularly affected by the shortages, while smaller, family-run businesses are managing to cope without the need for outside help.
“Staffing shortages have been a persistent problem in Bansko,” says Zorka Tumbakieva, secretary of the Tourism Union in Bansko.
“Although many of our businesses are family-run, the high demand during ski season means there just aren’t enough local workers available.”
According to Tumbakieva, the situation has worsened in recent years, compelling businesses to reach beyond national borders to recruit employees through agencies that specialize in hiring from countries like India, Tajikistan, and various former Soviet states.
Despite efforts to boost local workforce numbers, training programs for tourism and hospitality have struggled to attract younger workers.
Vocational courses are offered locally, but few graduates see careers in hospitality as appealing, citing low wages as a primary deterrent.
Tumbakieva argues that improving professional training programs could be key to addressing the worker shortage and suggests that raising wages might also encourage more Bulgarians to enter the sector.
Some in the community remain hopeful that long-term changes could bring about improvements. “Bansko is a town that depends on tourism, and it’s important to address these staffing issues to ensure the area’s continued growth,” Tumbakieva notes.
She advocates for enhancing training in tourism professions, aiming to build a more sustainable workforce capable of meeting the resort’s growing needs.
As the ski season begins, the reliance on foreign workers is expected to play a significant role in keeping Bansko’s hospitality sector operational. However, industry leaders recognize that long-term solutions are needed to ensure stability in the sector.
With increased attention to professional training and competitive wages, there is hope that Bansko can eventually attract a steady supply of qualified local workers.
Until then, the region’s reliance on international employees remains a critical factor in meeting the high demands of Bansko’s winter tourism.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members