Newsletter
Positive results from the tourism in Bulgaria for summer 2006
The National Tourism Board reports a successful summer tourism season. The data shows an increase of the number of tourists from Russia. The number of tourists from Scandinavian countries, Romania, Hungary and Belgium is also rising.
According to information from the National Tourism Board, the number of tourists from Romania marks a record level, approximately 22- 25% more than the previous summer. For the first time for the last 15 years the Russian tourists in Albena and Sunny Beach resorts are more than those from Germany.
“Austrian Airlines”, that operate with regular flights to Sofia and Varna, marked an increase in the number of passengers, traveling for business or leisure, with 23- 25%.
The hotelier association announced full occupation of the hotels in Golden Sands for August.
Bulgaria is more popular among tourists from Great Britain, Russia, Germany and Sweden, even Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary.
Summer 2006 registered high numbers for visitors from Romania. More than 110 000 Romanian tourists visited Bulgaria until mid august this year, announced the BNR correspondent in Bucharest- George Vasilski.
Along the southern Black sea coast September is the month with highest occupancy.
The number of tourists coming to Bulgaria for SPA and balneology treatment has also risen with almost 20%.
The Rural Tourism also marks and increase in the number of tourists with 25% until the present moment in comparison to the previous year. The association of the Bulgarian villages announced the 200 villages in Bulgaria are professionally developing rural tourism, and the rural houses offering accommodation are more than 500.
During the last 5-6 years the Bulgarian tourism marked a 20% growth.
The Bulgarian resorts have developed their capacity almost 3 times. Around 700 – 800 million euro were invested in the Black sea resorts Sunny Beach and Golden Sands and for the construction of four and five star hotels. 20% of the accommodations along the Bulgarian Black sea coast are 4 and 5 star hotels.
According to the National Tourism Agency the black sea coast offers 300 thousands beds in hotels, residential buildings and vacation complexes. Investors from UK, Ireland, Spain and France are attracted by the vacation properties in Bulgaria.
At the present moment tourism is 12% of the Gross Domestic Product of Bulgaria. The tourism sectors see a promising future for the next 2007, when the revenues from tourism are expected to be over 2.5 billion Euros.
The World Tourism Organization expects Bulgaria to welcome 20 million foreign tourists by 2020.
This year Bulgaria is among the 10 top destinations of the biggest tour operator in the world- TUI.
Respectful hotel chains like Radisson SAS, Hilton and Princess are already operating in Bulgaria. Since last summer one of the best hotelier chains opened a five star hotel in Golden Sands on the Black sea coast- Kempinski Grand Hermitage, part of Kempinski Chain. (visitbulgaria.net)