The global economic downturn is about to enter its second winter, and Bulgarian travel agents and hotel owners would be more than happy if revenue this forthcoming winter season hits the same numbers as during winter 2008/09.

Expectations are, however, that the number of foreign tourists will drop, according to an informal poll of travel agents published by Dnevnik daily on November 16.
"The drop is early bookings on the British market is six per cent," Sevda Ivanova of travel group Thomas Cook told the newspaper.

The head of the Bulgarian association of travel agents BATA, Donka Sokolova, was more conservative in forecasting that the number of Brits holidaying in Bulgaria in winter would decrease by 10 per cent.

Britons and Russians make up the bulk of foreign holidaymakers in Bulgaria during winter. Russian tourists, however, could be discouraged by Bulgaria’s cumbersome procedures for issuing visas to them and the increased visa price, Sokolova said, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency Focus.

"We met foreign ministry officials and hope Bulgarian travel agencies will have visas issued at the Bulgarian consulates," Sokolova was quoted as saying. "But just an hour ago, I was told that five charter flights from Russia to Bulgaria, which were due for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, have been cancelled," she said.

According to Tsvetan Tonchev, the chairperson of the Bulgarian Tourism Chamber, quoted by website investor.bg, the number of bookings from Russia is expected to be higher than last season.

Bulgaria’s two main airports used by charter flights during winter, in Sofia and Plovdiv, did not expect passenger numbers to drop. However, some charter flights have switched and will use Sofia airport, even in cases when the one at Plovdiv is closer, as in the case of Chepelare resort, Dnevnik said.

About 300 charter flights have been announced by Sofia airport, which means that up to 45 000 holidaymakers would be flown in if the flights are fully booked. Up to 20 000 tourists are expected to be flown in to Plovdiv.

Busy holidays
Bansko and Borovets remain the most sought-after, but also the most expensive Bulgarian winter resorts, Tonchev said.

The highest demand is for packages during the holiday season, which most hotels expected to sell out by early-December, he said. Predictions of the occupancy rate during the remainder of the winter season remain sketchy.

Last-minute bookings are seen as the key factor that would determine if travel agents and hotel owners post a profitable season. Bulgarian hotels were successful in attracting bargain-hunting holidaymakers, mainly Bulgarians rather than foreigners, with last-minute offers during the summer season.

It was too early to tell whether hotels in winter resorts would follow suit and only some hotels have cut prices compared to the the 2008/09 season, Tonchev said.

More could follow suit now that the World Travel Market, held on November 9-13 in London, is over. The fair is regarded by travel agents as one of the key events shaping the interest of British tourists in Bulgaria.

Declining interest in Bulgaria abroad was also ascribed to the fact that the all-inclusive model, which has gained large acceptance by hotel owners in Bulgarian summer resorts, is yet to be widely used in winter resorts. Package deals that include ski passes and ski instruction in addition to travel and accommodations remain scarce.