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Foreign Tourists in Bulgaria, 2005
Sofia Echo Com, Ivan Vatahov, 06.02.2006
FOREIGN holidaymakers visiting Bulgaria increased by 4.5 per cent in 2005 as compared to 2004, the Culture Ministry said on January 25. Of these, 54.2 per cent came from European Union countries. At 665 894, Greeks were the most numerous group, although 11.34 per cent fewer Greek tourists visited Bulgaria than in 2004. Germany was second with 582 315 tourists (down 2.43 per cent year-on-year) and Macedonia was third with 581 139 tourists (down 14.79 per cent). The number of Romanian holidaymakers nearly doubled compared to 2004. In addition, 36 per cent more UK and Turkish tourists visited Bulgaria in 2005. Preliminary figures showed that January-November 2005 international tourism revenues (exclusive of transport) were more than 1.8 billion euro, up 8.78 per cent from a year earlier. Net revenues for the respective period stood at 1.06 billion euro, up 11.9 per cent year-on-year. The one-billion-euro mark was first crossed in September 2005. Although international surveys now show that European tourists currently prefer countries like Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia, Egypt and Tunisia rather than the expensive resorts in Italy, France and Spain, analysts say the growth this country marked last year was modest to poor. Furthermore, tour operators believe that it is not the number of foreign tourists that is important but the number of those who will choose Bulgaria for their holiday again. Last year more than 85 per cent of the foreign tourists departed the country with a feeling they would return. A large number of the foreigners (72 per cent) spent their vacation at the seaside, 15-18 per cent in the mountains, and about 12 per cent, in other places. This latter is where the greatest potential for growth lies. Conventional types of tourism are not expected to grow further in the next few years, as they are believed to have reached their highest levels. The hotels at the seaside and in the ski resorts have already been built. They are expected to receive two or three times the current visitors. At the same time, the growth seen by the other forms of tourism - rural, religious, ornithological, wine, congress, and others - maybe 50 to 60 times. Four advertising films have been produced so far on the initiative of the Government and the Culture Ministry - on Bulgaria as a whole, on Sofia, on winter tourism and on spas. Five more films are currently in post-production. They will cover the whole spectrum of tourist products offered in Bulgaria. There are also nine videos dedicated to cultural, the seaside, and winter tourism. They are broadcasted by TV channels like Eurosport and Euronews and are part of the national advertising programme. The films are shown at international tourist forums, during business meetings and other forms of national promotions abroad.
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