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Bulgarian Tourist Sector Hopes for 'Hot' Summer 2011

Over four million tourists are expected to visit the Bulgarian Black Sea coast during the summer of 2011, according to the forecast of the Institute for Analysis and Assessment of Tourism.

The Institutes Director, Rumen Draganov, says the most visitors will come from neighbouring countries – Romania, Greece, Macedonia, along with those from Germany and Russia.

The tourist sector has expectations the maximum number of vacationers could reach 6.3 million people.

Draganov, however, admits the average bed occupancy in the sector is among the lowest in Europe – 27% for 2010, and 29% expected for 2011.

The Institutes Head further points out that the State failed to fulfil many promises given to the sector – the establishment of a separate Ministry of Tourism, the creation of a tourist attractions registry, and the division of the country in tourist zones.

Draganov says Bulgaria has serious shortcomings in the management of the public property in the tourist attractions, adding the tragedy of those who have invested in the sector is that they continue to hope the cabinet would undertake the above said measures.

The expert also criticized the TV clips which were created to advertise Bulgaria as a tourist destination on European TV channels, explaining they did not include advertisements of public property – historical, cultural and natural sites, for the sake of private property and "
things that do not exist in the country's tourism."