Bulgaria Expects Boost in Winter Tourism with Increased Foreign Visitors
Bulgaria is expecting a boost in winter tourism this year, with about 3.1 million foreign visitors projected between December and March
Germany’s supermarket group REWE said on Wednesday it will withdraw completely from discount business in Bulgaria with all PENNY stores ceasing to operate by the end of next month.
REWE Group will focus on full-range store business with PENNY’s sister company BILLA Bulgaria taking over the logistics centre in Stolnik near Sofia and - where possible - some of the current 49 PENNY outlets in the country, REWE said in a statement.
“Where possible, PENNY employees will be offered a continued employment at BILLA Bulgaria,” the statement read. “The employees who cannot be offered employment opportunities will receive severance pay in excess of that required by law.”
Currently, REWE operates 92 BILLA supermarkets in Bulgaria.
In the future, the REWE Group will focus its international discount activities with PENNY on business in the other five countries where it currently operates: Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Romania.
PENNY opened its first discount store in Bulgaria in 2009.
In recent weeks, there has been ongoing concern regarding the state's expenses for next year, with projections showing that costs far exceed available funds
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has voiced strong opposition to a proposed 10% tax on banks' excess profits, citing concerns that it would destabilize the financial sector
Tourist interest in Christmas and New Year holiday packages is exceptionally high this year
Economist Rumen Galabinov has stated that Bulgaria's potential future membership in the Eurozone could significantly benefit the country's economy
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Bulgaria in the third quarter of 2024 grew by 2.4% compared to the same period in 2023
Remote work has become one of the most important trends in recent years.
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