Exactly the same type of sensible and fair rules that they have in southern Spain.

No one could possibly ask for a fairer ruling than this. Places for smokers to go, and places for non smokers to go. With staff who are told what type of ruling is in place before they decide to work in such an establishment.

I defy any anti-smoker to give me a sensible answer as to why this should not be the general rule everywhere...Choice?

Well done Bulgaria,I just wish UK politicians had the same views on the smoking ban instead of lining their own pockets.Mr Blobby is spot on with his views.

Its not just tourists who will be affected.I get the feeling the natural past time for a bulgarian was smoking (aka my mother in law 3 pkts perday) A choice is the only humane way. In france the total ban of smoking in bar etc is slowly being bforgotten about. If its raining people smoke inside like in the old days. Lets hope that brussels dont start to find an eu law

I will definitely choose Bulgaria as a holiday destination - at least I won't bump into Deborah Arnott (ASH)

No way the ban will be relaxed in the UK as unlike Bulgaria who got rid of their stalinist government 20 years ago we've had one for thirteen years now.
Smoking and non smoking venues are such a simple answer.
So why dont they do that in the UK.
Because the ruling Looney Labour party here are "simple".

Most of the comments so far appear to come from smokers, or at least those would would support smokers.
Personally, Bulgaria has lost most of my trade in that I will not go to places where people are smoking. One professional/occasional tourist fewer.....
One thing that has not been mentioned is the disgusting smell of tobacco which sticks to the clothes of those who smoke.

Another reason why tourist go some where else other than Bulgaria to holiday.

Countries that have the worse smoking bans have seen mass unemployment in the hospitality industries.
Countries that are more relaxed with the ban will get extra tourism.

Why has smoking (or not) become such a socially "high profile" issue? Places where the pubic MUST go should, quite rightly, be non smoking - not because of "second hand" smoking (up there with global warming and the flu pandemic - based on non existent 'science'), but because it is just good manners - as some people do not like the smell. Places where people CHOSE to go should have the choice to be smoking or non smoking (as they have for decades now). Instead, because it seems "it is the European thing to do", in the UK for example, [...]

Read the full comment we have the few remaining pubs and clubs empty, with smokers and non smokers alike all stood outside the building trying to enjoy a social life in the freezing cold and pouring rain. Worse still, many "land locked" pubs (without a garden) now have most of the patrons stood on the street and people must walk through them when shopping. It is insanity - pure insanity. If we actually wanted to prevent the (non existent) second hand smoking, the best way would be to keep all the smokers together - away from the non smokers (unless the non smokers chose to join them). In the recent past, we used to call these places PUBS and CLUBS.
Well done Bulgaria, you have spotted the "elephant in the room" - the fact that banning smoking everywhere helps no-one and leads to social and economic destruction. The Bulgarian approach therefore truly is not "the European way", in that it does not destroy the lives of all it touches.

Spain seems to be spending quite some money in creating sealed-off "smoking areas" in bars, restaurants, and tourist spots like the Asturian/Cantabrian caves.

This probably costs a bit, but keeps everybody happy.

(I don't smoke myself, but I think that those that do smoke should not be made to feel like lepers.)

Any country that rejects draconian smoking bans will reap the benefits of increased tourism at the expense of those states that impose them. That's one reason why more tolerant countries are being leaned on by the EU. I cannot understand why former soviet dominated countries are relinquishing the hard earned freedom after decades of socialist bullying. The EU is fundamentally totalitarianism with knobs on.

Now that Spain is thinking twice about starting a draconian socially isolating smoking ban the other holiday destinations will have to try very hard to welcome smokers, or their tourism will collapse. There may only be about one third of adults that smoke across Europe, but if you include the partners/friends/family members of non smokers who will not go to places that ban smoking then that is probably over HALF of the population that will stay from these nazi regime areas.

A holiday spot that will not make smokers feel like lepers.
Well done Bulgaria.

At last a country that has some sense and fairness Of course private businesses should have the freedom of choice on what goes on in their establishments. Smoking is not illegal and should be allowed anywhere that 'warns' non smokers that it is taking place. There should be places for smokers and places for non smokers.

This will be a test for Bulgaria: life or death.

The minister states that relaxing the smoking laws is "not a European thing to do".
Well he should be informed that the majority of people in Europe do not class themselves as 'Europeans' and do not like being ruled by the crooks in the EU.