Bulgaria's government will shortly approve a new strategy for development of the country's beaches, and will lower the cost of concessions and rentals, said Rosen Pleveneliev, Minister of Regional Development.

The Minister made this announcement on Tuesday, at a meeting with the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria.

Plevneliev said government approval would be within 10 days and that the first new concession procedures would start within one month. The Minister estimated that prices would become up to 30% lower than their present levels.

"I will not hide from you that after these competitions there will be beaches without concessionaires and leaseholder," he warned, however. According to the Minister, about 100 beaches are free at present.

Under the new strategy for beach rentals and concessions, some of them will be handed over to the regional governors to rent them out.

"Our goal is to have stable concession contracts with clear rules," the Minister stated.