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Fri, Feb 10 2012
Dry season
Photo: Anelia Nikolova
Supply of accommodation at Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts is outstripping demand, and after a lacklustre June and July, expectations about August are gloomy – prompting predictions that the season will be cut short and hoteliers will cut prices for the sake of getting custom.
The global financial crisis is just one of the reasons for the decline in summer season tourism in Bulgaria this year, industry players say. Also being cited are the country’s reputation for poor service, over-construction and competitively priced alternatives in neighbouring Greece and Turkey.
An indication of the decline is the figure given by the National Statistical Institute earlier this month, that year-on-year to June 2009, trips by foreign nationals to Bulgaria decreased by close to 13 per cent.
Bulgarian news agency BTA said on July 26 that the Union of Owners at Sunny Beach resort reported that the number of holidaymakers at the resort was 20 per cent less than in 2008. Most hotels at the resort were half-empty, BTA said.
In a July 25 report entitled "dead zone in tourism", Bulgarian National Television (BNT) said that at the height of the summer season, hotel facilities around Varna were half-empty.
Hoteliers were expecting that August and September bookings could be even lower than those in July.
Every year, accommodation at the Black Sea increased while tourists decreased. There were no accurate statistics on how many hotels there were at the Black Sea, nor how many jobs they offered, BNT said.
Further, there was a lack of comprehensive studies about what the tourist market wanted. Hotel manager Radostina Popova told BNT: "At some point it became fashionable to build hotels, and then to come up with all-inclusive facilities. Perhaps tomorrow these hotels will be converted into residential accommodation". Things were done on a chaotic, spontaneous basis, she said.
Many people held the view that small family hotels would be more profitable than their much larger counterparts, while in the next decade, at least five per cent of hotels would remain unfinished, without roofs and windows, BNT said.
However, visits by Russians are on the rise. The Bulgarian consulate in Moscow issued 20 per cent more visas this year than in 2008. About 100 000 Bulgarian visas were issued in Russia in mid-July.
Travel company head Dimitar Tsonev said that Bulgaria was being hard-hit by competition from all-inclusive resorts in Turkey.
Bulgarian Tourist Chamber president Tsvetan Tonchev predicted that the drop in summer season tourism would be 15 per cent, news website Focus said.
It was not only the financial crisis, but also that Bulgaria lacked a good image and a good advertising campaign abroad, Tonchev said.
Bulgaria offered good tourist packages at good prices, but its neighbours have been offering various incentives this season and had done better in solving their visa problems.
"What was important was to come up with larger-scale advertising and adopt the anti-crisis programme we suggested as early as in October 2008, but nobody paid any attention to us. It might have diminished the drop by five per cent," Tonchev said.
State Agency for Tourism head Anelia Kroushkova said that 32 per cent of Bulgarians went to Greece and 23 per cent to Turkey.
She said that in 2009, the number of foreign tourists had fallen by 7.6 per cent. Apart from Russia, there had been increases from other countries – Romania 20 per cent, the Czech Republic 21 per cent and Slovakia 33 per cent.
However, as has long been practice in official statistics on tourism in Bulgaria, these are percentages – not headcounts.
With Prime Minister Boiko Borissov’s Government having taken office, tourism has again been elevated to ministerial level, as part of the Economy and Energy Ministry, with a deputy minister directly responsible for the tourism portfolio.
The change could have a positive effect if it was backed up with sufficient money and respect for the tourism industry, Kroushkova said.
The global financial crisis is just one of the reasons for the decline in summer season tourism in Bulgaria this year, industry players say. Also being cited are the country’s reputation for poor service, over-construction and competitively priced alternatives in neighbouring Greece and Turkey.
An indication of the decline is the figure given by the National Statistical Institute earlier this month, that year-on-year to June 2009, trips by foreign nationals to Bulgaria decreased by close to 13 per cent.
Bulgarian news agency BTA said on July 26 that the Union of Owners at Sunny Beach resort reported that the number of holidaymakers at the resort was 20 per cent less than in 2008. Most hotels at the resort were half-empty, BTA said.
In a July 25 report entitled "dead zone in tourism", Bulgarian National Television (BNT) said that at the height of the summer season, hotel facilities around Varna were half-empty.
Hoteliers were expecting that August and September bookings could be even lower than those in July.
Every year, accommodation at the Black Sea increased while tourists decreased. There were no accurate statistics on how many hotels there were at the Black Sea, nor how many jobs they offered, BNT said.
Further, there was a lack of comprehensive studies about what the tourist market wanted. Hotel manager Radostina Popova told BNT: "At some point it became fashionable to build hotels, and then to come up with all-inclusive facilities. Perhaps tomorrow these hotels will be converted into residential accommodation". Things were done on a chaotic, spontaneous basis, she said.
Many people held the view that small family hotels would be more profitable than their much larger counterparts, while in the next decade, at least five per cent of hotels would remain unfinished, without roofs and windows, BNT said.
However, visits by Russians are on the rise. The Bulgarian consulate in Moscow issued 20 per cent more visas this year than in 2008. About 100 000 Bulgarian visas were issued in Russia in mid-July.
Travel company head Dimitar Tsonev said that Bulgaria was being hard-hit by competition from all-inclusive resorts in Turkey.
Bulgarian Tourist Chamber president Tsvetan Tonchev predicted that the drop in summer season tourism would be 15 per cent, news website Focus said.
It was not only the financial crisis, but also that Bulgaria lacked a good image and a good advertising campaign abroad, Tonchev said.
Bulgaria offered good tourist packages at good prices, but its neighbours have been offering various incentives this season and had done better in solving their visa problems.
"What was important was to come up with larger-scale advertising and adopt the anti-crisis programme we suggested as early as in October 2008, but nobody paid any attention to us. It might have diminished the drop by five per cent," Tonchev said.
State Agency for Tourism head Anelia Kroushkova said that 32 per cent of Bulgarians went to Greece and 23 per cent to Turkey.
She said that in 2009, the number of foreign tourists had fallen by 7.6 per cent. Apart from Russia, there had been increases from other countries – Romania 20 per cent, the Czech Republic 21 per cent and Slovakia 33 per cent.
However, as has long been practice in official statistics on tourism in Bulgaria, these are percentages – not headcounts.
With Prime Minister Boiko Borissov’s Government having taken office, tourism has again been elevated to ministerial level, as part of the Economy and Energy Ministry, with a deputy minister directly responsible for the tourism portfolio.
The change could have a positive effect if it was backed up with sufficient money and respect for the tourism industry, Kroushkova said.
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Number of foreign visits to Bulgaria dropped in September
Bulgarian visits abroad matched the trend, with the exception of Macedonia where there was a 15.7 per cent increase.
Bulgaria’s tourism market shrivels up to 30 per cent in summer 2009
As the peak season draws to an end, hoteliers and tour operators are putting the finishing touches on summer 2010 deals, when most companies will slash the number of hotels they work with but do their best to keep tourist numbers unchanged. In addition, they will seek ways to encourage early bookings through juicier offers and special extras to packages.
Foreign visits to Bulgaria in July 2009 dropped 5.8 per cent year-on-year
Meanwhile, July 2009 saw the number of visits abroad by Bulgaria increase, with a huge increase in travel to Greece, according to the National Statistics Institute
Tourist numbers in Greece decrease – industry body
Tourism in Greece, a vital part of the country’s economy, saw a steady decline according to January to July 2009 figures, according to the country’s Association of Tourism Enterprises.
VIP holidaymakers
Few suspect that state residences are open for public use
Hotels in Albena drop prices to 10 leva a night
Prices for hotel rooms, with breakfast included, have dropped as low as 10 leva a night in some hotels in the Albena resort.
Golden Sands resort reports 60% fall in H1 revenue
In the second quarter alone, the drop in non-consolidated revenue was 35 per cent year-on-year to 4.3 million leva.
More in this category
Cautionary tales as tour groups caught in the middle of money rows
Foreign and Bulgarian tourists victim of debt row at a Pamporovo hotel, Foreign Ministry intervenes after another tour group delayed in Morocco, and Bulgarian arrested in Serbia for forging receipts for payment for tour group.
Bulgaria to spend 4.2M leva on tourism fairs in 2012
The country will withdraw from participation in some international tourist expos but will join others to promote itself as a tourist destination.
Ski runs on Vitosha Mountain to shut down
Management company says current legislation makes it impossible to run the ski lifts legally.
Varna ranks second by overnight stays in Q3 2011
The municipality accounted for 26.8 per cent of the total number of overnights in the quarter and generated 30.5 per cent of the country's revenue from accommodation services.
Bulgarians' trips abroad rise 20.9% Y/Y in Q3 2011
In July-September, a total of 1.522 million Bulgarians travelled abroad or in the country.
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there will always be a problem for tourism in bulgaria mainly because most of it is run by foriegners eg russian austrian english who are there just trying to cash in on low investment high profit schemes. look at the mess they have caused in bansko really is a joke, the authorities must understand that money cannot buy y
Eddie try again they are not all the same i had a fantastic agent.
The hotels are shit i wonder how they get there star rating.
I have just come back from Bg and i wont be going back, i went there with the intention of investing in properties on the North sea coast, i went in to one agency and was treated like i had swine flu !! there customer service is Nil,do they not understand, i wanted to invest in there country, create some commision for there wages and there future !The customer sevice was the same in the hotel, four star... more like two star.They are rude and have a bad reputation of being untrustworthy in business.
i hope the irish community withdrawls the intended plans for a 2nd irish community and consider other country options.
i hope bulgaria feels the wrath of poor customer service. i hope the touris population decrease by more than 50%.
Nothing theives and disrespecting moronic idiots. However, save those kind good BG families, we so sorry for them because some of them are our good friends. Its a shame they have to endure this day in and day out.
Having been to Bulgaria 5 times in the last 3 years I am not surprised that the tourist figures are expected to drop by 15% this year. The service has not improved and the prices have clearly increased beyond all recognition. I purchased an apartment in the Black See coast and to give you an example the management company of the complex has doubled the charge for electric in 1 year. Whilst clearly I like the country I strongly believe that if this kind of attitude alongside the soar face way the "service industry" react when you go anywhere continues [...]
Read the full comment Bulgaria will not have a tourist industry worth looking after in 5 years.
Fingers crossed the powers that be sort it out, and quick
It is interesting and read about how many tourists who have problems with the police in Bulgaria, and how, year after year
fail to see the connection with the sharp decline of tourists to the country. Have the police in Bulgaria no internet connnection, so they themselves can read how quickly this creates a bad reputation for Bulgaria.
You must report this to the Varna police they do not like tourists getting robbed if convicted they will face a long jail term.
I just come home from Bulgaria "Golden Sands". Under monday evening i get rubbed my three security-garde pepole. It was dark and i was alone so it was not mutch to do. After that i find two police man but they don´t help. They just told me to go back to my hotelroom. I told other tourist what happed and they think i was real bad. I probelly never go back to Bulgaria again.
what happened during pre world war II when allied powers were against the germans. The UK deeply remembers the wounds by german nazi's and those who coward and bowed towards the nazi's instead of standing with the allies and defending democracy at its core! Well, as a result look at what has happened to the citizens; everthing has a consequence, especially if the will of good cannot try obtain this at all cost. THE WEST IS NOT TO BLAME. BULGARIA CHOSE TO BE ON THE NAZI SIDE AND THEREFORE consequence are being shown; everthing from attitudes, discipline, customer service, customer [...]
Read the full comment orientation and etc,,,etc,,,etc.
Next year will be ennu worse for the tourism industry. Sunny beach was known to be a party place, but since the Scandinavian tourists decreased by 70% so it is no longer any destination requested. Sunny Beach and Bulgaria are out, and never more to return as a popular destination. The only people who will go there are people and families from Russia, Romania can not afford and go to a more expensive holiday destination.
What we need is more topless girls on the beaches. I agree with steve they have the jewel but have no clue how to use it and i do not think they ever will very sad.
I have my own company in BG and the UK. It saddens me that the Bulgarians have the jewel in the crown of Europe and dont know what to do with it. the majority of customer service is terrible and the attitude is that of being very short sighted. There is a tomorrow and consideration should be given to this.
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Just sit back and mourn about past figures and set backs this year doesn´t help.
All main vacation countries in Europe are facing losses of tourists/overnights.
However, as most of them had similar problems already in the past years, whilst Bulgaria was enjoying steady increases, they react(ed) with advertising campaigns, as for example it can be seen in Germany: Spain is already a good and steady costumer to magazines, Greece started an intense campaign this year, and Turkey, which never had any problems like this, is nevertheless running steady advertisments to keep Turkey in the minds [...]
Read the full comment of people.
And Bulgaria? Never seen any ad from them.
Mass tourists have few factors they react on, and and considering them (primarily prices) Bulgaria is easily substitutable, no matter how beautiful the country might appear to individual tourists.
As the article is talking about mass tourism, these aspects have to be taken into account.
Why does this report not surprise me.
The sooner Bulgarians take solid advise from people who know how to market and promote there country the better.
They also need to stamp out the corruption that is rife out there, shame as it is a fantastic country with alot to offer, but they are always trying to find a way of how to rip you off !!
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained