[size=85:2q1thp9a]novinite 25 May 2010

Bulgaria Expects 6 Million Foreign Tourists in 2010

A total of 8-8.5 million tourists will make their vacations in Bulgaria in 2010, and some 6 million are expected to come from abroad.

This means that there will be a 5% increase in the number of foreign tourists year-on-year, according to a forecast of the Institute for Analysis and Estimates in Tourism.

More tourists from Germany, Russia, Central Europe, Romania, Serbia, and Macedonia are expected to visit the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts in the summer of 2010 compared to last summer.

According to data of the Institute, Bulgarian tourists spent BGN 575 per capita on vacations in the summer of 2009, and are expected to spend at least as much this summer.

The prices of tourism packages are forecast to be about 20%-25% lower in Bulgarian Black Sea resorts.

According to Stoyan Marinov from the Varna Tourist Chamber, the hopes that Bulgarian Black Sea resorts might benefit somehow by the fact that some foreign tourists might be turned away from Greece as a result of the strikes there are totally unfounded as the clients traditionally going to Greece and to Bulgaria are different in terms of their demands.

Marinov said Bulgarian tourist operators and resorts have to try to compete with their Turkish counterparts who offer very good service at very competitive prices.

Fingers crossed

Oddy

[size=55:36kcqv29]novinite 05 August 2010

25% More Russian Tourists in Bulgaria in 2010

Standstill of hotel prices at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast have caused a high interest for vacations of Russians in Bulgaria in 2010.

According to data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia, about 72 000 Russiand tourists have chosen Bulgaria for their vacation destination, which is an increase of 23,9% in comparison to last year.

“The higher interest in Bulgaria has been recorded not only by our company, but also by our colleagues from other tour companies,” said Elena Andrievska, responsible for Bulgaria in the Russian “ICS Travel”.

In her words, usually 60% of the tourists visit the Northern Black Sea coast, but this year the company has registered a growing interest towards some of the resorts on the Southern Black Sea coast, like the “Duni” resort.

According to data from the Russian “Solvex Travel” company, the increase of reservations ranges between 20% and 30%, depending on the specific Bulgarian resort, with an increasing interest towards the “Saints Constantine and Helena” resort and smaller towns in the Southern Black Sea coast.

Another Russian travel company, “Delta Intercontinental Group”, had a 30% increase of vacations in Bulgaria in 2009 and has sold out all travel packages for August 2010.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia believe that the main reason for the high interest towards Bulgaria is the fact that the Bulgarian hoteliers have not increased the prices this year, despite the positive signals for improvement in the sector.

Another reason is the fact that the hotels on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast have extended the promotions packages for early bookings.

The Bulgarian tour operators have stated that most of the Russian tourists who stay in hostels, prefer “all inclusive” packages and first line position of the hotel. The next most popular places for accommodation are luxurious apartments in apart hotels.

The average stay of Russian tourists in the country is about 2 weeks, the Bulgarian tour operators claim.