Tourism sector expects growth of between 6 % and 10%

Focus Agency, July 30, 2008

The tourism sector in Bulgaria registers 11% growth in tourists and 16 % growth in currency revenues, according to information by Agency for Tourism.
"I think there are things that are not covered by currency and the revenues are higher", Blagoy Ragin, Chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said.

He noted the reason for the growth was larger number of beds. Ragin added the season was going very well and “things are for our benefit.”

The sector expects growth of between 6 and 10% in tourists and 16% growth in currency revenues, he said.

“We can preserve it by the end of the year, and even double it for the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. Although we are very critical to Bulgaria’s tourism, it is still the golden hen for Bulgarian economy and we have to be very careful not to kill it. We make many mistakes, but still, it is not easy to change the whole system for ten years,” Ragin noted.