New tourism board in Bulgaria proposes development strategy

The Sofia Echo, 22nd May 2006

Bulgaria remained unpopular as a tourist destination abroad despite the millions of tourists attracted each year, Lyudmil Stoikov, member of the newly created Tourism Board said.

Stoikov added that the best solution to the problem was further investment into advertising, BGNES news agency reported. At present the tourism revenue reached billions but only two to three per cent of it were re-invested into marketing.

According to Stoikov specific measures to be taken included opening new tourism agencies in countries already interested in Bulgaria. According to plans, these agencies should be financed entirely by the business sector.

Other problems the tourism sector faces are the lack of laws to encourage investment, the poor infrastructure and the delay in the airports concession.

Poli Karastoyanova, chairperson of the Tourism Board, requested a new tourism development strategy. The tourism sector provides 14 to 15 per cent of the GDP and promotes other economic sectors like food processing and construction.

In 2006 the tourism sector is facing significant market changes now that German tourists have lost interest in Bulgaria as holiday destination, Valentin Yosifov, one of the board managers, said. Instead, the majority of foreign tourists is expected to come from the Scandinavian countries, the UK and Russia.

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