Bulgaria invites Russian regions to set private resorts here

03.04.2014

Bulgaria is capable of allowing every Russian region to create its private resort in Bulgaria by buying plot, investing and getting building permission for hotels, sanatoriums and relaxation centers, Branimir Botev, Deputy Minister of Economy in the field of tourism declared at a tourist exhibition in Moscow, cited by the press center of the department.

As an instance he proposed the investment on behalf of Moscow to the total value of up to 220 million dollars in a sanatorium which accepts a number of children, pupils and adults.

The Deputy Minister made an account on the fact that the Russian tourists previous year were by 4.1 % more than 2012. Only in January 2014, the decrease amounts to 15 % and this was due to ‘’the exceptionally good branding’’. In 2013, more than 7 million tourists visited Bulgaria, 10 % of which were Russians, official data show.

Botev highlighted the provoking governmental policy which is about to establish new consul’s positions in Russia-in Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and two more. He had raised a debate on a Bulgarian base in Orenburg.

His announcement clarified that Russian air companies show steady interest to performing charteres to the Black Sea region, Sofia and Plovdiv.

In the Deputy Minister’s opinion Bulgaria is highly competitive as a marine destination compared to Turkey, Greece and Croatia but it excels them thanks to its mineral springs and the opportunities for mountain tourism. He emphasized the new products-the wine, the gourmet tours and the golf courses.

Bulgaria participated in the exhibition with a stand covering total area of 320 sq.m featuring seven non-governmental organizations, tour operators and tourism agencies under the slogan ‘’A single country, multiple opportunities’’. Uti Bachvarov, the TV presenter was a special guest of the press conference who demonstrated a culinary journey across the country.

Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Association has accepted the invitation to visit Bulgaria for five days in May and he is expected to take part in an open government meeting.

Within the past six months we have changed the image of the Bulgarian tourism on the world market as we imposed purposeful presence and approach to the specific markets and the needs of their clients there, Botev assessed his activity. He prognosed that we would improve the sustainable development considering all we have achieved up until now and taking into account the upcoming programmes.

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