Bulgaria's winter and ski resorts will seek to attract more and more tourists from neighbouring Balkan countries, decided experts who took part in a round table forum discussion in Sofia on Monday 18 April. The event was organized by the Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, which presented the following results from the completed winter tourism season 2010-2011.
A total of 412641 foreign tourists visit Bulgaria's winter and ski resorts, an increase of 7.1%, while the total revenue from foreign tourists was EUR 204 million, a 2.3% increase year-on-year.
The biggest increases came from the numbers of Balkan tourists and some of the more traditional source countries:
- Romania – 113110 tourists, up 9.3%
- Macedonia – 80560, up by 30.7%
- Serbia – 47901, up by 28.1%
- Turkey – 46029, up by 0.8%
- Germany – 26241, up 18.6%
- Russia – 32541, up by 11.8%
- Ukraine – 15485, up by 16.4%
- France – 10583, up 29.7%
- Israel – 8247, up 25.9%
- USA – 6629, up 13.7%
Tourists from Greece numbered 172845, a decline of 5.2% year-on-year; the UK – 35704, down 3% and Italy – 13531, down by 20.7%.
For the next winter tourism season, the Bulgarian ski resorts plan to invest heavily in artificial snow equipment in order to be able to extend the duration of the season. The top resorts intend to organize various world winter sports competitions – a goal already achieved by Bansko which hosted a world ski cup round this winter.
According to the business executives and experts who took part in Monday's round table, the economic crisis has affected the numbers of British and Irish tourists coming to Bulgaria, while the visa regimes for Russia and Turkey have had a similar effect.
The resorts and the Economy Ministry also plan to boost their efforts to attract Bulgarian tourists to the winter resorts. While Bulgaria's winter resorts are traditionally seen as important for the country's tourism revenue, their share is nowhere near that of the Black Sea summer resorts which are usually visited by several million foreign tourists each year.
A total of 412641 foreign tourists visit Bulgaria's winter and ski resorts, an increase of 7.1%, while the total revenue from foreign tourists was EUR 204 million, a 2.3% increase year-on-year.
The biggest increases came from the numbers of Balkan tourists and some of the more traditional source countries:
- Romania – 113110 tourists, up 9.3%
- Macedonia – 80560, up by 30.7%
- Serbia – 47901, up by 28.1%
- Turkey – 46029, up by 0.8%
- Germany – 26241, up 18.6%
- Russia – 32541, up by 11.8%
- Ukraine – 15485, up by 16.4%
- France – 10583, up 29.7%
- Israel – 8247, up 25.9%
- USA – 6629, up 13.7%
Tourists from Greece numbered 172845, a decline of 5.2% year-on-year; the UK – 35704, down 3% and Italy – 13531, down by 20.7%.
For the next winter tourism season, the Bulgarian ski resorts plan to invest heavily in artificial snow equipment in order to be able to extend the duration of the season. The top resorts intend to organize various world winter sports competitions – a goal already achieved by Bansko which hosted a world ski cup round this winter.
According to the business executives and experts who took part in Monday's round table, the economic crisis has affected the numbers of British and Irish tourists coming to Bulgaria, while the visa regimes for Russia and Turkey have had a similar effect.
The resorts and the Economy Ministry also plan to boost their efforts to attract Bulgarian tourists to the winter resorts. While Bulgaria's winter resorts are traditionally seen as important for the country's tourism revenue, their share is nowhere near that of the Black Sea summer resorts which are usually visited by several million foreign tourists each year.
For advice, assistance and information about Moving to Bulgaria, we recommend that you visit our website at MovetoBG.com - and for accommodation options, resources and services, we suggest Bulgaria Gateway
No comments:
Post a Comment