Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Bulgaria Increase with 30%

News.bg, Jan 02, 2008

The number of foreign tourists, who visited Bulgaria in 2007, is expected to total up to 6 million, marking a 30% increase over 2006.
The forecast was made by Blagoy Ragin, head of the Bulgarian hotel and restaurant association, who spoke in the town of Chepelare.

Bulgaria remains a preferred destination for tourists from Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia and is experiencing a steady growth in tourists from neighbouring countries, whose citizens do not need a visa, such as Romania and Greece.

The number of tourists from neighbouring Macedonia and Serbia, however, is decreasing, Ragin said, adding that Bulgaria is failing to cash in on tourists from these countries due to the sluggish visa system. Estimates have set the incurred losses at EUR 250 M.