THE number of foreign tourists visiting Bulgaria in September was more than 10 per cent higher than the same month last year.
More than 324 000 tourists visited last month, according to figures released during a round table discussion at the fourth Southeast Europe Economic Forum.
Deputy Economy Minister Dimitar Hadjinikolov said that this year, from January to August, there were more than 2.4 million foreign tourists, which was 8.55 per cent higher than the first nine months of last year.
Donka Sokolova, chairperson of the Bulgarian Association of Tourist Agencies, said the sector had a “successful and long 2002 summer season,” starting at the end of April and ending officially on October 24.
The Economy Ministry said most visitors to Bulgaria’s seaside resorts came from Germany, the UK and Scandinavian countries.
The number of British tourists increased by 64 per cent in the past year. But compared to the influx from the UK, there was a decrease of tourists from Russia and Ukraine by 25 per cent and 45 per cent respectively due to the introduction of a visa regime.
Sokolova said earnings from international tourism could reach 2 billion euro a year by 2005.
Balkantourist director Neli Sandalska predicted 15 to 20 percent growth in the coming winter season.
“Balkantourist will boost the number of British guests only in the winter resorts Borovets and Pamporovo by 200 per cent,” Sandalska said.
Balkantourist will bring twice as many English tourists to Bulgaria in winter 2002-03 amounting to $1.5 billion revenues from tourism expected in 2002.
“Only 96 891 Russians spent their holidays in Bulgaria,” Hadjinikolov said. The number of German tourists from January to September was a record 454 176 compared to a total of 374 000 in the past season 2001.
A total of 135 000 tourists from Russia and Ukraine visited Bulgaria in the first nine months of the year. Bulgaria is planning to boost advertising in Russia in an attempt to solve the problems related to the reduced number of Russian tourists in 2002.
More than 324 000 tourists visited last month, according to figures released during a round table discussion at the fourth Southeast Europe Economic Forum.
Deputy Economy Minister Dimitar Hadjinikolov said that this year, from January to August, there were more than 2.4 million foreign tourists, which was 8.55 per cent higher than the first nine months of last year.
Donka Sokolova, chairperson of the Bulgarian Association of Tourist Agencies, said the sector had a “successful and long 2002 summer season,” starting at the end of April and ending officially on October 24.
The Economy Ministry said most visitors to Bulgaria’s seaside resorts came from Germany, the UK and Scandinavian countries.
The number of British tourists increased by 64 per cent in the past year. But compared to the influx from the UK, there was a decrease of tourists from Russia and Ukraine by 25 per cent and 45 per cent respectively due to the introduction of a visa regime.
Sokolova said earnings from international tourism could reach 2 billion euro a year by 2005.
Balkantourist director Neli Sandalska predicted 15 to 20 percent growth in the coming winter season.
“Balkantourist will boost the number of British guests only in the winter resorts Borovets and Pamporovo by 200 per cent,” Sandalska said.
Balkantourist will bring twice as many English tourists to Bulgaria in winter 2002-03 amounting to $1.5 billion revenues from tourism expected in 2002.
“Only 96 891 Russians spent their holidays in Bulgaria,” Hadjinikolov said. The number of German tourists from January to September was a record 454 176 compared to a total of 374 000 in the past season 2001.
A total of 135 000 tourists from Russia and Ukraine visited Bulgaria in the first nine months of the year. Bulgaria is planning to boost advertising in Russia in an attempt to solve the problems related to the reduced number of Russian tourists in 2002.
