If you were planning to go to the Burning Sea 2013 festival in Croatia this summer, there's bad news. The festival has been cancelled due to a sudden extra VAT of 25 % to the regular ticket prices. In compensation, the festival ticket you might have bought for Burning Sea 2013 can be exchanged into tickets for the Metaldays festival in Slovenia.

Official statement for cancellation: "Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have been forced to cancel the Burning Sea festival for 2013, although ticket sales were much better than Metalfest tickets last year!

The Croatian government decides to charge an extra VAT of 25 % to the regular ticket prices also for cultural associations. Originally and until now, all of our calculations (e.g. Metalfest 2012) were made with 0 % VAT due to cultural tax exceptions as stated on tickets as well. Only a couple of days ago we were informed by the tax office about the changes in VAT law. We are not able to buffer a 25 % backup, so in the end there is no way for us to make the Burning Sea festival into a business that is profitable - Even if it would be sold out!

We were not able to find an investor in such a small period of time. We are a private owned and runned company, so without any big industry behind us, there is no way for us to make this festival running without knowing how much money we would loose.

With this cancellation we are joining HGU (Croatian union of musicians) in their protests against this tax law, and hope that in 2014 Croatia will not be European state with highest Taxes when it comes to festival/concerts tickets prices. For your better understanding, Germany has 7%, Slovenia 8,5%, and Austria 9% taxes on income made on festival/concert tickets.

We will try to revitalize Burning Sea in 2014, based on a new calculation and unfortunately with a ticket price including the VAT.

All ticket money will be refunded at the shops where they were bought originally! Please contact the shops where you bought your ticket. If you bought Fan pack, you can keep your T-shirt. Some of the bands will be added onto the billing of Metaldays festival in Slovenia, and for other bands we will try to organize back-up shows.

Note: visit Metaldays with Burning Sea ticket!
We are aware that many of you, metalheads, will be extremely disappointed with this cancellation, so we decided to offer you an option to still enjoy your metal holidays. Therefore all Burning Sea 2013 tickets can simply be exchanged into Metaldays tickets without any overprice. All you must do is to bring your valid Burning Sea 2013 ticket to Metaldays box office at Metaldays festival.

We apologize for the cancellation."

The festival had announced names such as King Diamond, Iced Earth, Overkill, Amorphis, Candlemass, Enslaved, Turisas, Moonsorrow and Destruction, among many others.

Source:	burning-sea.com
Event:	Burning Sea 2013 [CANCELLED]