A QUESTION mark has been put over the accuracy of the reportedly record numbers of tourists at the northern Black Sea coast, and the amount of money earned from them.
Bulgarian tourist company Albena, which runs the Black Sea resort of Albena, reported a loss of 5.416 million Bulgarian leva for the first six months of 2003, down by 300 000 leva compared with January to June 2002. At the same time the National Statistical Institute announced a record number of foreign tourists in the first half of this year.
The southern coast appeared to be in a different situation.
"A record large number of foreign holidaymakers has been reported for the southern Black Sea coast," Foreign Minister Solomon Passi told journalists in Bourgas. So far this season Sunny Beach has been visited by 276 000 foreigners. The situations in Sozopol, Nessebur and Primorsko are similar.
Last year, 202 000 foreigners had their holidays in Sunny Beach. Nearly 510 000 passengers landed and took off from Sarafovo Airport. The annual total is projected to be around one million passengers, up 30 per cent on preliminary forecasts.
"I believe that the military base in Sarafovo, used in two successive coalition operations, was a most valuable argument for Bulgarian tourism. Apart from everything else, the military base strongly advertised Bulgaria around the world," Passi said.
A Dutch company, Capital Ground and Building Investment, has started construction of a luxury tourist complex in the Black Sea town of Pomorie in southeastern Bulgaria, at a cost of 80 million euro, to be completed by 2005. The complex is to comprise five hotels, designed to cater for visitors during all seasons.
The reported loss by Albena is not surprising as the first two quarters of the year are traditionally not a strong season for Bulgarian summer resorts. The last two months of the summer season, July and August, are usually the strongest. Albena's total operating debts are 122 million leva and its registered capital is 195 million leva.
The Economy Ministry has proposed changes to the Territorial Administration of the Republic of Bulgaria Act, to grant special municipal status to the major resorts of Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Albena, Pamporovo and Borovets. The aim is to ensure normal functioning of the complexes, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Following their recent privatisation, the resorts have encountered problems in infrastructure management and maintenance. The proposed amendments will allow the municipalities to spend municipal taxes and fees on publicity and infrastructure renovation.
Old construction technologies are also being reintroduced in the Rhodope Mountains to attract visitors. Traditional adobe building methods are being brought back into use in an effort to promote rural tourism and to resuscitate old crafts, said project coordinator Miriana Naidenova.
A new community centre has been built in the traditional style and will function as a museum. It is expected to become one of the tourist landmarks of the area.
The disputed figures
More than 2.2 million people came to the country in the first seven months of this year, almost all as part of package tours or to enjoy seaside holidays and wine tourism.
People from Balkan countries were the most frequent visitors, among whom Macedo-nians made up the largest group with 362 487 people. After these come tourist visits from Serbia-Montenegro, which totalled 318 566, and behind these, 262 321 visitors from Greece.
A total of 236 644 people entered Bulgaria from Romania, although 188 758 only passed through the country on their way to another destination.
Just 3406 tourists came here from Turkey, most of whom are thought to have visited relatives and friends in Bulgaria. However, Turkey was the country with the most business visitors to Bulgaria, totaling 16 988 between January and July.
Bulgarian tourist company Albena, which runs the Black Sea resort of Albena, reported a loss of 5.416 million Bulgarian leva for the first six months of 2003, down by 300 000 leva compared with January to June 2002. At the same time the National Statistical Institute announced a record number of foreign tourists in the first half of this year.
The southern coast appeared to be in a different situation.
"A record large number of foreign holidaymakers has been reported for the southern Black Sea coast," Foreign Minister Solomon Passi told journalists in Bourgas. So far this season Sunny Beach has been visited by 276 000 foreigners. The situations in Sozopol, Nessebur and Primorsko are similar.
Last year, 202 000 foreigners had their holidays in Sunny Beach. Nearly 510 000 passengers landed and took off from Sarafovo Airport. The annual total is projected to be around one million passengers, up 30 per cent on preliminary forecasts.
"I believe that the military base in Sarafovo, used in two successive coalition operations, was a most valuable argument for Bulgarian tourism. Apart from everything else, the military base strongly advertised Bulgaria around the world," Passi said.
A Dutch company, Capital Ground and Building Investment, has started construction of a luxury tourist complex in the Black Sea town of Pomorie in southeastern Bulgaria, at a cost of 80 million euro, to be completed by 2005. The complex is to comprise five hotels, designed to cater for visitors during all seasons.
The reported loss by Albena is not surprising as the first two quarters of the year are traditionally not a strong season for Bulgarian summer resorts. The last two months of the summer season, July and August, are usually the strongest. Albena's total operating debts are 122 million leva and its registered capital is 195 million leva.
The Economy Ministry has proposed changes to the Territorial Administration of the Republic of Bulgaria Act, to grant special municipal status to the major resorts of Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Albena, Pamporovo and Borovets. The aim is to ensure normal functioning of the complexes, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Following their recent privatisation, the resorts have encountered problems in infrastructure management and maintenance. The proposed amendments will allow the municipalities to spend municipal taxes and fees on publicity and infrastructure renovation.
Old construction technologies are also being reintroduced in the Rhodope Mountains to attract visitors. Traditional adobe building methods are being brought back into use in an effort to promote rural tourism and to resuscitate old crafts, said project coordinator Miriana Naidenova.
A new community centre has been built in the traditional style and will function as a museum. It is expected to become one of the tourist landmarks of the area.
The disputed figures
More than 2.2 million people came to the country in the first seven months of this year, almost all as part of package tours or to enjoy seaside holidays and wine tourism.
People from Balkan countries were the most frequent visitors, among whom Macedo-nians made up the largest group with 362 487 people. After these come tourist visits from Serbia-Montenegro, which totalled 318 566, and behind these, 262 321 visitors from Greece.
A total of 236 644 people entered Bulgaria from Romania, although 188 758 only passed through the country on their way to another destination.
Just 3406 tourists came here from Turkey, most of whom are thought to have visited relatives and friends in Bulgaria. However, Turkey was the country with the most business visitors to Bulgaria, totaling 16 988 between January and July.
