Bulgaria expects some 5-8% increase in the number of foreign tourists

Bulgaria expects some 5-8% increase in the number of foreign tourists, judging from data for early bookings for the summer season. “We hope balance of payments proceeds generated in the industry to exceed last year’s by €3 bn,” Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Ivo Marinov, responsible for the tourism sector, said in the town of Balchik at the official opening of the 2012 summer season.

According to Marinov, Balchik is a great place to host the national ceremony because it is a wonderful example of combining natural, cultural and historical reality with a year-round occupancy of tourist facilities. It became clear that Balchik was nominated by the Balkan Alliance of Hotel Associations for a festival town in the Balkans. “Practically, the season does not have an end in Balchik because, even in winter, the occupancy rate is 40-60%. This is proof of the municipality’s ambition to make the region a year-round resort destination,” Marinov said.

“The expected increase in the number of foreign tourists in Bulgaria will vary, depending on the individual markets, the highest growth being forecast in the number of vacationers from Russia and the Ukraine – some 15-20%,” specified Marinov. Soon, nine new visa centres on the territory of the Russian Federation will be opened and their total number will become 16. This will considerably facilitate Russian holiday-makers’ trips to Bulgaria.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: