Bulgarian winter 2011: expectation of growth in tourist traffic

Bulgaria in the coming winter season expects growth in tourist inflow. Official Bulgarian tourist authorities predict an increase in tourist traffic in winter by on average 3%. Such figures in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio were announced by the head of the Bulgarian Institute for analysis and evaluation Rumen Draganov.

So optimistic forecast Bulgarian tourist analysts have formed on the basis of a successful ski season in Bulgaria in 2009-2010, and also due to fairly good income, which is observed at the resorts of Bulgaria this summer.

As expected, demand for holidays in Bulgaria will be largely shaped by cross-border tourism. Thus, it is expected that the number of tourists traveling to Bulgaria from neighboring Serbia and Macedonia will increase. Growth is planned due to the abolition of visa regime between Bulgaria and the two countries.

The financial crisis in Greece has also become one of the reasons why the Bulgarian tourism can count on additional clients. Many Greeks, seeking to minimize their costs, go on shopping to Bulgaria, where the price of food and gasoline is still significantly lower than in Greece itself.

In addition, one of the key elements that form favorable environment in the market is a boycott of Israeli tourists of Turkish resorts. This summer holidays in Bulgaria were preferred by a much larger number of Israelis, rather than in the past. Ski resorts of Bansko, Pamporovo and Borovets are counting on the fact that tourists from Israel will spend their winter vacations also on the slopes of Pirin and Rodopi. Mr Draganov said that the current ski season in Bulgaria officially starts on December 19, 2010.

Bulgaria is also looking forward to the positive effects of large-scale advertising campaign that the country started on several transnational channels, including Euronews, National Geographic, Discovery and Eurosport.