Austrian pensioners hail Sunny Beach
Austrian pensioners that spent their holiday at Sunny Beach in the beginning of May declared their wish to do it again next summer. The southern Black Sea resort pulled for a first time in many years the start of the tourist season in a drastic manner, thus attracting elderly and more pretentious guests much earlier.
The Austrians have signed a contract with the Union of Retired People in their country and the rotation principle says that next year they should visit Italy. However, the pensioners were so charmed by Bulgaria that they all stated their wish to return to Sunny Beach again. The good news was voiced at a Burgas-held press conference by the main organizer of the stay – the BTS – Bulgarian Tourist Services tour operator. State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finances Mr. Andreas Schieder and the Austrian Ambassador His Excellency Gerhard Reiweger attended the event. Both politicians arrived to Sunny Beach to see whether their fellow countrymen were happy with their stay in Bulgaria. The official guests were accompanied by journalists from leading Austrian radios and TVs.
The holiday of a total of 7,500 Austrian pensioners was negotiated for a first time this year. The same number will visit the resort next year too. Austrian retired people are quite special, distinguished with their high criteria. They demand top quality of service and are not easy at all, branch employers say. The Bulgarian tour operator has succeeded in creating the perfect conditions and the results are obvious. The elderly tourists liked it all – the sea, the beaches, the hotels, the services and even the food that responded to their taste, the organizers say. What is most important – our Austrian guests are fascinated by the possibilities for new impressions, as well as by the cultural and historical tours, organized for them near Sunny Beach. This places a challenge before the entire Black Sea region that should respond to the requirements of thousands of European tourists. Because this type of guests need not only a beach and a sea, but also to get fully acquainted with the country, its population and traditions. The Austrian pensioners are sworn travelers, they love to get acquainted with destinations across the globe and can afford it. Bulgaria used to be terra incognita till recently and now their curiosity is enormous, the tour operator says. That is why their stay at Sunny Beach can be considered important for the Bulgarian – Austrian relations. Austria used to be the main and now it is the second largest investor in Bulgaria. In the period 1992 – 2012 it invested a total of EUR 6 bln. here. Some 400 Austrian companies are registered and work in Bulgaria. The Austrian economy has exported to Bulgaria EUR 640 mln. and the Bulgarian one to Austria – EUR 360 mln. Now this country has the chance to be discovered by Austrian tourists too, branch employers declare. Now these elderly people that are charmed by this country can turn into its best ambassadors. Photos will be shown to family, friends and colleagues. The stories added on the marvelous experience will do it too with the description of our customs, nature and hospitality. Thus the tourist relations between both countries will reach their peak very soon, both the two Austrian politicians and the Burgas entrepreneurs are optimistic to say.
Source: http://bnr.bg/
(05.06.2013)