More than a million tourist have chosen Varna for their vacation

More than a million tourist have chosen Varna and its area for their vacation since the yea’s beginning until the active summer season’s end. Revenues from their night-stays during the first 7 months of the year exceed BGN 235 mil. which is a 23% growth compared to the same period of last year. Thus said the Minister of Tourism, Nikolina Angelkova, during the opening of the ninth Black Sea Tourism Forum. The event was also attended by the Varna mayor, Ivan Portnih, the regional governor Stoyan Pasev, representatives of tourism companies and municipalities, etc.

Numbers indicate that since the year’s start and until August we have welcomed more than 6 mil. international tourists, meaning some 16% growth. "Naturally, as the number of tourists grows, so do revenues - in the first 7 months of 2016 they have grown by nearly a billion leva and now exceed BGN 3,4 bln., which a 15% growth compared to the same period of 2015", Minister Angelkova emphasized. This summer we are witnessing a return of tourists from traditional markets for our country, such as Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, Scandinavia. There is also growth of tourists hailing from France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, etc. "As early as this last spring, experts and media in Germany predicted that Bulgaria would be among the most sought-after summer destinations, and this came true. Varna and the ambient area at the most preferred destination", Nikolina Angelkova added.

She announced that work is already in progress for the Summer'2017 season, the indications being that it would be even more successful than this one. Meetings have already been held with the management of large scale tour operators, such as Thomas Cook and TUI, which are predicting a growth of some 30% for the coming year, it was made clear by the Minister of Tourism.

The Black Sea Tourism Forum is intended for professionals in tourism and this year’s edition is held under the motto Bulgaria – a Four-Season Tourism Destination. It is attended by representatives of the embassies of Republic of South Africa, Republic of Argentina, USA, and France in Bulgaria, 18 Municipalities, more than 10 universities from the country and abroad, tour operators, travel agencies, hoteliers, etc.