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- август 10, 2025
A number of leading Jewish organizations in Bulgaria – the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, the Religious Community of the Jews, and the Aleph Center – have issued a joint recommendation to Israeli tourists to avoid the Nevrokop region during the upcoming summer season. The reason: a “dangerous trend of inciting hatred” following a public statement by the mayor of the village of Ognyanovo, Ivan Izhbekhov, who declared the Israeli ambassador “unwelcome” and described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide.”
A Top Press investigation found that Israel is among Bulgaria’s top inbound tourism markets – in recent years, Bulgaria has welcomed an average of about 55,000 Israeli tourists annually, around 4,000 of whom have planned holidays in Southwestern Bulgaria, including Ognyanovo, Leshten, Kovachevitsa, and Bansko. This year’s figures, however, show a total collapse – only about 300 bookings for the entire region, a drop of more than 90% compared to 2024.
The decline began after the mayor of Ognyanovo’s public statement, which spread through Bulgarian media within hours and reached Israeli news agencies. From there, the warning was circulated among tour operators and travel groups for Israeli citizens.
“Any reckless, populist statement that generalizes entire nations or religious groups is not only an insult but also a direct threat to tolerance and good relations. Such words have no argument and harm Bulgaria’s image,” said Michael Levi, Head of Public Relations at the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom,” in a comment to Top Press.
According to a Bulgarian diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, such remarks “do not reflect the official position of the Bulgarian state and can have a negative impact on bilateral relations.” He noted that Bulgaria has traditionally enjoyed the trust of Israel and Bulgarians of Jewish origin worldwide, and that sharp local political statements undermine this image.
Another Bulgarian diplomat, who has served in the Middle East, commented that “in international relations, every word carries weight, and sometimes the damage is done in minutes, while restoring good tone can take years.” He added that tourism is one of the sectors that feels the impact of political tension first, and that “punitive” boycotts by tourists are rarely reversed quickly.
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