site.btaPamporovo Ski Resort Reports Unusual Increase of Greek Tourists for Upcoming Christmas

NW 10:27:31 01-12-2014
SN1027NW.105
105 ECONOMY-TOURISM-WINTER RESORTS-EXPECTATIONS

Pamporovo Ski Resort Reports
Unusual Increase of Greek Tourists for
Upcoming Christmas


Smolyan, Southwestern Bulgaria, December 1 (BTA) - The Pamporovo
ski resort starts the new winter season with almost full hotels
for Christmas, sources from the resort said. Pamporovo reports
a considerable increase in Greek tourists coming for the
Christmas holidays. The resort also expects an increase in
British and Balkan holiday makers and a high occupancy rate of
the hotels throughout the season. Pamporovo opens the skiing
season on December 6 with a spectacular snow show and free ski
lift facilities for all guests.

Bulgarian and Greek tourists are the most numerous guests of the
resort for the Christmas festivities. The increase of the Greek
holiday makers is tangible after the opening of the
Makaza-Komothene border checkpoint. The majority Greek tourists
in Pamporovo are non-organized visitors who book their holidays
on-line. Tour operators expect more business with their Greek
counterparts after a ban for passage of big coaches through the
Makaza checkpoint is lifted. The resort also projects an
increase in Romanian and Serbian holiday makers after a
large-scale advertising campaign there.

As of December, one of the chartered flights from Britain to
Plovdiv Airport in Southern Bulgaria is reinstated. This winter
also sees the first charter programme from Turkey, which is
proof of the steady annual increase of Turkish holiday makers.

Meanwhile, the Bankso ski resort said they are opening several
ski pistes on December 1. The snow that fell several days ago
under the Todorka Peak in Mt Pirin and the cold weather made it
possible to produce artificial snow and ensure good skiing
conditions. The official opening of the ski season in Bansko is
on December 13 and will traditionally feature big names in the
skiing world. VI /ZH/



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