site.btaMost Foreign Visitors in Borovets, Pamporovo Winter Resorts Come from Britain, Balkan Countries

Bulgaria's winter resorts of Borovets and Pamporovo report that most foreign tourists come from Britain and the Balkan countries this season. Both resorts report high occupancy rates.

Bulgarians are the second largest group of tourists now. Both resorts boast interest from Bulgarians all the year round.

Borovets

Blagovesta Tomova, Chair of the Association Union of Hoteliers and Owners in the Borovets Resort, told BTA the largest numbers of Balkan tourists come from North Macedonia, Kosovo and Romania. In addition, relaxed visa requirements from January 1 have brought tourists from other Balkan countries, mostly Serbia and Kosovo.

Tomova said the Borosport company kept improving the condition of the slopes with technical snow. Due to this and the hoteliers' efforts, many hotels in Borovets are full. The resort has offered a larger package of activities in recent years, including thematic evenings aimed to reach out to every tourist.

After the winter, Borovets will be open to convention tourism, followed by the summer season.

Tomova noted there is room for improvement in the resort's infrastructure, above all parking spaces and the appearance of the facilities.

Pamporovo

Pamporovo AD Executive Director Marian Belyakov said the foreign tourist numbers are close to those registered in 2023. He noted an increase in Romanian, Greek and Serbian groups.

Belyakov said Pamporovo would be full of tourists between January 15 and March 4.

The statistical office in the southern town of Smolyan told BTA that hotels in Smolyan Region, where Pamporovo is located, have registered guests from Iceland, Egypt, Australia, China, Chile and the UAE, in addition to traditionally active Britain and Ireland. Arrivals from markets uncharacteristic of Pamporovo and the region are due to a growing trend for clients to book tours themselves. Last winter the region had bookings from China, India, Australia, Georgia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.