BULGARIA is the fastest growing destination in South East Europe in regard to its cultural, archaeological, recreational, summer and winter tourism.
After the successful closure of the winter ski slopes, now Varna, Bourgas and the whole Black Sea Coast have opened their doors even earlier than the official start of the summer season. The initial construction works mainly in the northern part of the seaside (Golden Sands in particular), have been recently frozen and the summer season has returned to its ordinary activities, mainly entertaining tourists from all over Europe.
The number of foreign tourists visiting holiday resorts increased by 25 percent year-on-year for the first five months of 2004, with rapid growth in May. All the data released by the Economy Ministry on June 21 feature a greater share of revenues derived from EU countries.
"The EU countries seem to be Bulgaria's most important market of Bulgaria's international tourism," the ministry said in a press release.
"Tourists from the European Union (excluding the new EU member states) to Bulgaria rose by 47 percent," the ministry said. The first five months tourists number almost a 55 per cent increase compared to the same period of last year.
Statistics on seasonal employment are of interest this year. The State Employment Agency's latest data on unemployment shows a continual downward trend going to 12.6 per cent as of the end of May. Given the labour market's seasonal pattern, the unemployment rate is likely to drop below 12 percent by the end of September. Data also shows the number of job offers in the private sector have grown by 17 percent in May this year compared to last year. All the seaside staff that is registered as unemployed at the end May migrates to the seaside and stays there until the end of September.
The 1 248 138 foreign tourists who visited the country made Bulgaria's net revenue from international tourism to climb by 40 percent to 44.9 million euro.
"Tourism revenue for the first five months was 199.8 million euro," the ministry said.
All the revenues on record are compiled from all the types of tourism that Bulgaria's tour operators, agencies and private entrepreneurs have been developing recently.
However, the luxurious combination of sand and sea is not sufficient in and of itself, and many other alternative avenues are sought to expand the holiday season in Bulgaria. Safaris, cultural excursions, simulations for pirate ships and cruises as far as Romania and Turkey are a small part of what the seaside offers.
Bansko and the mountains should not be underestimated and the Perperikon festival have generate great interest in the area near Kurdjali. Bansko's August-September jazz festival will again invite as many tourists and music lovers. Sofia residents will be able to escape for one-day and two-day tours to Veliko Turnovo with its Sound and Light amusements.
Apollonia in Sozopol (starting on September 1) and the beer fest in Varna are going to attract bands and music fans to experience the outdoor culture along the summer capitals.
These events seem to underpin the Bulgarian government's projected rise in tourism revenue of up to 12 percent this year. Tourism revenue rose to $1.6 billion last year from $1.33 billion for 2002, sustaining the upward trend for the previous three years.
The tourism industry still needs to be further developed by the state. Holiday makers and agencies say Bulgaria needs more investments in luxurious facilities such as lush golf courses and resorts if it wants to lure high-end tourists, rather than package all inclusive tours.
After the successful closure of the winter ski slopes, now Varna, Bourgas and the whole Black Sea Coast have opened their doors even earlier than the official start of the summer season. The initial construction works mainly in the northern part of the seaside (Golden Sands in particular), have been recently frozen and the summer season has returned to its ordinary activities, mainly entertaining tourists from all over Europe.
The number of foreign tourists visiting holiday resorts increased by 25 percent year-on-year for the first five months of 2004, with rapid growth in May. All the data released by the Economy Ministry on June 21 feature a greater share of revenues derived from EU countries.
"The EU countries seem to be Bulgaria's most important market of Bulgaria's international tourism," the ministry said in a press release.
"Tourists from the European Union (excluding the new EU member states) to Bulgaria rose by 47 percent," the ministry said. The first five months tourists number almost a 55 per cent increase compared to the same period of last year.
Statistics on seasonal employment are of interest this year. The State Employment Agency's latest data on unemployment shows a continual downward trend going to 12.6 per cent as of the end of May. Given the labour market's seasonal pattern, the unemployment rate is likely to drop below 12 percent by the end of September. Data also shows the number of job offers in the private sector have grown by 17 percent in May this year compared to last year. All the seaside staff that is registered as unemployed at the end May migrates to the seaside and stays there until the end of September.
The 1 248 138 foreign tourists who visited the country made Bulgaria's net revenue from international tourism to climb by 40 percent to 44.9 million euro.
"Tourism revenue for the first five months was 199.8 million euro," the ministry said.
All the revenues on record are compiled from all the types of tourism that Bulgaria's tour operators, agencies and private entrepreneurs have been developing recently.
However, the luxurious combination of sand and sea is not sufficient in and of itself, and many other alternative avenues are sought to expand the holiday season in Bulgaria. Safaris, cultural excursions, simulations for pirate ships and cruises as far as Romania and Turkey are a small part of what the seaside offers.
Bansko and the mountains should not be underestimated and the Perperikon festival have generate great interest in the area near Kurdjali. Bansko's August-September jazz festival will again invite as many tourists and music lovers. Sofia residents will be able to escape for one-day and two-day tours to Veliko Turnovo with its Sound and Light amusements.
Apollonia in Sozopol (starting on September 1) and the beer fest in Varna are going to attract bands and music fans to experience the outdoor culture along the summer capitals.
These events seem to underpin the Bulgarian government's projected rise in tourism revenue of up to 12 percent this year. Tourism revenue rose to $1.6 billion last year from $1.33 billion for 2002, sustaining the upward trend for the previous three years.
The tourism industry still needs to be further developed by the state. Holiday makers and agencies say Bulgaria needs more investments in luxurious facilities such as lush golf courses and resorts if it wants to lure high-end tourists, rather than package all inclusive tours.
