A self-proclaimed clairvoyant dubbed the “new Baba Vanga” has gone viral for predicting a catastrophic global event set to occur just two months from now—but while her chilling prophecy has stoked online panic, tourism boards and officials across several countries are begging travelers not to fall into fear-driven cancellations.
The Bulgarian mystic, real name Elena Markovic, made international headlines after an appearance on a Serbian late-night show went viral on TikTok. In the now-controversial clip, shared by @VisionChannel, Markovic warns of a “dark wave rising from beneath the Earth” that will “break nations, silence skies, and erase coastlines” by late July.
Within days, her words were being translated, analyzed, and sensationalized in dozens of languages. The term “July Event” began trending globally. A Reddit thread on r/conspiracy broke down every word of her appearance, comparing it to the writings of Baba Vanga, the blind Bulgarian mystic whose prophecies have long been the subject of controversy and fascination.
Markovic’s prophecy, delivered in cryptic poetic fragments, hinted at volcanic activity, “a world split in two,” and “oceans pulling back like whispers before a scream.” Though no precise location was mentioned, speculation quickly turned to popular coastal destinations—especially Italy, Japan, and the western United States.
As fear snowballed, booking cancellations began rolling in.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast tourism office told The Guardian they saw “a 14% drop in bookings within 72 hours” of the clip gaining traction. In Hawaii, local officials said dozens of travelers cited the July warning as a reason for pulling out of summer plans.
But experts—and authorities—are pleading with the public not to panic.
“This is internet hysteria, not science,” said Dr. Eric Romani, senior analyst at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, during an interview with CNN. “There is absolutely no credible geological or climatological data suggesting a cataclysmic event is imminent in July—or any time this summer.”
Romani said similar viral prophecies have emerged nearly every year since the early 2000s, pointing to the infamous 2012 Mayan calendar panic as an early prototype of what he calls “digital doomsday loops.”
Still, Markovic’s growing cult following sees her as a legitimate heir to Baba Vanga. Her previous “predictions,” including a claimed foresight of the Turkey-Syria earthquake in 2023 and a financial crash in Eastern Europe, have led to comparisons in tabloids from Daily Mail to New York Post.
The fervor is being fueled further by influencers. YouTube mystic @AwakenedEyes posted a 25-minute video comparing satellite heat signatures near the Pacific Rim to Markovic’s phrases. On TikTok, creators are showing packing cancellations and “safe zone” planning, with hashtags like #JulyProphecy and #BabaVanga2025 collecting millions of views.
But the reaction has real-world consequences.
“We’re already seeing small businesses—hotels, restaurants, beach rentals—take financial hits from fear over something that has no basis in reality,” said Luca Marini, spokesperson for Italy’s national tourism agency, in a statement to Reuters. “We urge travelers: check facts, not visions.”
Even the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has weighed in, posting an official rebuttal on its X account stating, “The soul is a mystery, but fear-mongering is a sin. Travel freely and live in the present.”
Notably, no country has issued a travel advisory or risk assessment related to Markovic’s claims. In fact, major airlines including Lufthansa, Delta, and Emirates told Bloomberg they have seen “no credible threat indicators” and are continuing summer operations as planned.
But that hasn’t stopped rumors from spiraling. One viral TikTok video claimed FEMA had ordered extra supplies to the West Coast in “preparation for a July event.” The post was later debunked with a Community Note showing the deliveries were for routine wildfire preparation.
Tourism influencers and travel bloggers are now stepping in to try and fight back. On Instagram, @WanderWithGrace posted: “I’m still going to Santorini in July. I trust weather reports, not clairvoyants in robes.” Travel expert Rick Steves reposted her story and added, “This isn’t the first apocalypse to be scheduled. It won’t be the last.”
Sociologists say the situation reflects a growing distrust of official narratives and a cultural craving for cosmic explanations. “People are drawn to mystics during uncertain times,” said Dr. Nalani Sandhu of Oxford’s Center for Modern Myth. “We’re in a post-fact world. Prophecy travels faster than press releases.”
Markovic, who rarely speaks directly to media, posted a cryptic message to her own X account Tuesday afternoon: “The wave cannot be stopped. But you can choose where to stand when it hits.” She did not clarify the prophecy’s meaning, location, or timeframe further.
As the July date inches closer, tourism boards across the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the U.S. West Coast are taking to their official channels to counter the fear. The Greek Ministry of Tourism released a video ad Wednesday with drone footage of calm beaches and the tagline: “Prophecies come and go. Summer stays.”
So far, the science remains clear. There is no data supporting the idea of any global catastrophe. But the digital chaos created by a single prophecy, amplified by millions of anxious clicks, has once again reminded the world just how fast fear can spread—and how much power people give to words, even when those words come from shadows.
