Successful tourist season expected this summer
The Summer 2012 tourist season was officially unveiled in the Black Sea town of Balchik. This year’s forecasts are more than good. According to Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Ivo Marinov the bookings made so far cause optimistic expectations on the sector’s development through the coming months.
The Bulgarian ministry of economy, energy and tourism expects a 5-8 percent growth in the number of foreign tourists this summer. The institution hopes that the revenues in the sector, which is among the most profitable ones will exceed the last year’s ones, coming up to more than EUR 3 bln. At the same time the share of foreign tourists expected will be different on the different markets, as the greatest one is foreseen to be about 15-20 percent of Russian and Ukrainian citizens, Mr. Marinov says. The decision of the Bulgarian government to recognize as national the Schengen visas of Russian citizens turned out to be essential for this. All owners of valid Schengen visas will now be able to enter this country without a national one. 9 new visa centers will be opened in Russia, reaching a total number of 16. These centers will cover a significant part of the territory of the Russian Federation, which will ease significantly the issuing of visas for its citizens. The tourist ministry expects the number of tourists to increase this way. The 100,000th visa to a Russian citizen since the beginning of 2012 is expected to be issued in the first week of June. At the same time the institution has marked a growth of some 15 percent of Russian tourists since the beginning of this year on 2011.
Bulgaria has recently become wide popular among Romanian tourists that opt for our North Black Sea resorts on a large scale during the summer months. Data of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association shows that 1 mln. Romanian tourists visit this country annually, but it has the potential to attract 500,000 more. The town of Balchik is one of the favorite destinations for our northern neighbors. It combines natural, cultural and historical sites in a beautiful manner. Practically the season never ends here, since the resort works with 40 – 60 percent of its potential in winters too, which proves the municipal ambition the region to be turned into a tourist destination for the whole year, Ivo Marinov underlined. He wished good luck and many happy tourists to all branch representatives.
The success of the starting summer season depends on the home market too. Where shall the Bulgarians spend their holiday this year? Shall they opt for the familiar Bulgarian Black Sea coastline, or will they pick up neighboring Turkey for instance, with its higher prices, but better services? Or we will head for the crisis-torn Greece that is another preferred destination for the Bulgarian tourists? According to the research of Eurobarometer, conducted in the EU member-states 73 percent of Bulgarian citizens prepare for a holiday in this country. The recently released data of the National Statistical Institute for the first trimester of the year marked a 20 percent growth of our fellow countrymen that opted for a holiday in Bulgaria. If this trend is kept, we may expect a very successful summer season, branch experts say.
Text and photo: bnr.bg
(07.06.2012)