Bulgarian tourist sector to benefit at the expense of Greece and Turkey

Bulgaria might benefit this coming winter from an up to three per cent increase in tourism, Bulgaria National Radio reported on October 18 2010.

The aforementioned growth in the tourist sector is expected due to the "
good results of the past winter season and of this year’s summer season"
, according to Roumen Draganov, head of the Bulgarian Institute for Analysis and Assessment on Tourism.

Of particular importance is the increased number of tourists in 2010 from neighbouring Serbia and Macedonia, following the abolition of the visa regime for those two countries in December last year.

Furthermore, the raging economic crisis in Greece and stiff austerity measures implemented by the Greek government, which in turn have caused a cascade of strikes and industrial actions, have hurt the Greek tourism sector, while the Bulgarian one has cashed in.

Increasing numbers of Greek tourists coming to Bulgaria to purchase foodstuffs and fuel, as well as visiting local tourist attractions, has contributed to a positive turnaround while the conflict between Israel and Turkey also led to more Israeli tourists choosing Bulgaria instead of Turkey as their summer destination. Draganov said that the forthcoming winter tourist season will be officially opened between December 19-22.

Additionally, the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry is banking on an international television promotional campaign, featured on four channels: Euronews, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and Eurosport which advertise Bulgaria as a must-see tourist destination in Europe.

The initiative, launched by the Ministry of Economy, is worth 7.5 million leva, financed by the Regional Development operative programme. The promotional clips feature Bulgaria's summer and winter tourist destinations, environmental and rural tourism and the country's cultural historic heritage.

The clips will be aired 3166 times in total, in two phases – from September 6 until December 26 and from January 31 until March 27 2011. It is expected that the campaign will reach about 608 million European households.

The clips are in Bulgarian, English, German, Russian and French, are 30 seconds' duration and will be aired during prime time hours, the report said.