Interest of British in Bulgaria's tourism opportunities persists

The Sofia Echo, 21st August 2006

It appears that nothing can spoil the interest of UK holidaymakers towards Bulgaria, as their number continues to grow despite the recent terrorist threat on London.

The sudden critical circumstances resulting from the terrorist threat against the UK and the US have not caused any cancellations of UK package tourist bookings for Bulgaria, Balkan Holidays executive director Antoaneta Todorova said on August 11, quoted by the press office of the National Tourism Board (NTB).

She believes that a better assessment of the effect of the threat on tourism can be made after the situation normalises.

Sofia Airport executive director Plamen Stanchev said the situation at the airport was normal and under control. Security services strictly follow the guidelines given by carriers British Airways, Bulgaria Air and Hemus Air. All three companies fly to and from London. According to Stanchev, airline operators make timely decisions and advise passengers of any flight changes in due course, thus avoiding unnecessary tensions at Sofia Airport.

The NTB will stay in touch with the World Tourism Organisation in order to update Bulgarian travel companies about measures to offset the effect of the crisis in the most seriously affected travel destinations.

The NTB sent a letter to British ambassador to Bulgaria Jeremy Hill, saying that its members share the concern of Brits over the London events and over the inconvenience the events have caused to travellers, and support the measures taken to prevent terrorist acts.

The organisation expressed its readiness to help overcome the crisis situation and to ensure the comfort of UK tourists coming to Bulgaria and Bulgarian tourists visiting the UK.

Meanwhile, the hot weather in Bulgaria encourages the flourishing 2006 summer season, which continues at full speed.

Bulgarian tourist company Riviera expects the number of tourists serviced in Riviera tourist centre in the summer season to hit a record 21 000 people, executive director Lyudmila Nenkova said on August 10.

After completing the construction of Riviera Beach 1 and 2, the company will construct no more new hotels, Nenkova said.

Riviera will invest substantial money in the renovation of the Oasis Hotel, which was built 50 years ago. The company plans to transform it into a deluxe boutique hotel, but to keep the building, since it is unique for the Black Sea region.

On August 10, Riviera tourist centre marked three anniversaries – 15 years since the foundation of Riviera company, 30 years since the construction of the Imperial and 50 years since the launch of the oldest hotel in the complex, the Oasis.

Since Riviera was privatised in 1998, it has invested more than 50 million leva (25.5 million euro) in the resort.

The new hunting season was officially launched on August 12 in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian hunters expect a slight increase in hunting tourism revenue through the 2006-2007 season.

A total of 3.1 million leva from trophies and fees entered the state budget in 2005, a report by the National Forestry Directorate (NFD) showed. Revenue is expected to grow if no ban on small game hunting is imposed, as it happened last year due to bird flu outbreaks.

NFD raised the hunting certificate tariff by 75 per cent in June 2006. The money is not invested in sustaining game population but enters straight into the state budget, Bulgarian hunters say.

The spring game count registered a slight increase compared to 2005.

Bulgarian hunters also complain of the mounting poaching, against which no sufficient measures are taken. A total of three flagrant pouching cases were detected in Aitos, east Bulgaria, and in Gabrovo and Levski, central Bulgaria.




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