site.btaEarly Bookings at Winter Resorts Up 5-7%from Last Year

Early Bookings at Winter Resorts Up 5-7% from Last Year

Varna, November 6 (BTA) - Early bookings at winter resorts suggest an increase of 5 to 7 per cent of tourists from last year, said Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova in Varna on Friday. Tourists come mainly from Turkey, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Germany, the UK, Israel and the Netherlands. An increase of Italian tourists are expected too. Minister Angelkova participated in the 8th Black Sea Tourism Forum in Varna, which this year is mottoed "Bulgaria's Regional Cultural and Historical Products: United in Diversity". An international science conference is taking place on the sidelines of the forum, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of tourism studies at Varna's Economic University.

Angelkova said an analysis will be made of Bulgaria's participation in international tourism exchanges and exhibitions. Bulgaria participates in more than 40 forums, while Portugal, which is the sixth most popular tourist destination, participates in ten. The analysis should determine which exhibitions are most productive in order to concentrate all efforts on them.

The Tourism Ministry's draft budget allocation for 2016 is over 13 million leva, said Angelkova. Money for national advertising campaign will be increased by slightly less than 2.3 million leva. According to her, the campaign will highlight cultural and historical tourism through online and digital marketing. A total of 240 tours for journalists and travel agents will be organized.

The Ministry plans to hold a series of roundtables with representatives of countries that are target markets for Bulgaria. The first meeting will take place in Sofia on November 19-20 to discuss relations with the Russian market. There will be meetings with hotel managers, travel agents and experts from Germany and the UK, the Visegrad countries and neighbouring countries in the Balkans, said Angelkova.

Angelkova said that her Ministry continues to work with prospective markets and the Chinese Tourism Minister is scheduled to pay another visit here, accompanied by travel agents and journalists. During Angelkova's visit to the US, an agreement in the field of tourism will be signed for the first time between the two countries.