[size=55:28r763to]novinite 25 September 2010

Bulgaria's Balchik Boasts 30% More Foreign Tourists

Bulgaria's northern Black Sea resort welcomed 156 000 foreign tourists in May-August, 2010.

This is a 30% increase year-on-year, according to data from the Balchik Municipality showing that the tourists visiting the town in the same period of 2009 were 122 000.

The number of night stays in local hotels also grew substantially from 692 000 in the summer of 2009 to 952 000 this summer.

The largest number of foreign visitors to Balchik came from Romania, followed by Russia, Germany, Poland, and France.

However, those who stayed in the town longest are the Russians, followed by Germans, and Poles. Romanians are ranked only fourth on that criteria, most likely because the proximity allows them to come to the Bulgarian northern Black Sea coast more often but for shorter vacations.

Balchik is a town of 13 000 north of Varna, famous for its Botanical Garden.

This is a lie. I live in Balchik and interact with the hotel/guest house owners and restaurant owners. Figures were well down on 2009, which, in turn, were well down on 2008. You don't even need to talk to the owners, a walk along the promenade makes it clear that there are virtually no tourists in any of the establishments and haven't been all summer.

Well George what do you expect them to say? they ain't gonna tell the truth

Of course, Davshaz, but we might tend to believe something like a 2% increase, which would be more believable, though still a lie. They might as well say tourism increased by 3000% and that Bulgaria is shangri-la. Some people, though, might, of course, actually believe something like that

Regards, George.

well i never saw them either :Very funny 2:balchik has nothing to offer tourists or children. two weeks here would be punishment.

Well, there we go then, Starlite, that's at least two of us against the whole of the Bulgarian News Service [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

and as for the botantical gardens, i went there, climbed millions of steps, struggled up steep paths, ran uncontrollably down the paths ( use wall as brake). looked around the rip off stalls. now bored, i said to my partner, can we go to the botanical gardens now. he said, youve just been round it. .
so unless you are in your 20s, fit and healthy and climb mountains regular, you might like it.

Yes, Starlite, the Botanical Gardens are particularly fun if you are over 50, smoke and are doing the tour in 40 degree heat

The cacti are pretty impressive, but none of the steep climbs are

Rip-off stalls - yes, what else can I say. I also like the rip-off restaurants, where you overpay and then get poisoned by the soup - happened to me once, but never again because I have never eaten there again.

Also, I believe you still have to pay twice to get in?

Regards, George

yes for the castle. :LMHO:castle, its worth going for the experience.