[size=75:2nbv6av7]Dnevnik 4 January 2010

Tourism: Slim hopes as Serbians head for Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s tourism sector is making moderate forecasts for the New Year, with industry representatives expecting a tough first six months.

The sector is much more prepared for the chilling economic environment than last year and is expecting late bookings for both the winter and the summer season.

“In the first half of the year, many colleagues will restructure their business by scaling back some costs,” according to Irina Naydenova, chairwoman of the supervisory board of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA).

“I don’t think there are very encouraging signs about 2010,” said Ventsislav Tanchev of Altours, adding that bookings are slack at the moment.

“If last year people felt threatened by the crisis, now they’re in the eye of the storm,” Tanchev said, explaining this is the reason why many travelers are holding back on their holiday plans.

Most tourist sector representatives are gearing up for the same results as last year in 2010. Others say the scrapping of the visa regime for Macedonia and Serbia and the fragile economic recovery in Western Europe could fuel some hopes for optimism.

Airport operators say the major tour agencies will repeat their 2009 charter programmes for both the winter and the summer season.