Tour operators' experience

The key word of the tourist flow, which the tour operators use to characterize the summer in 2007, is internationalization. While the German market was over 80% of the tourists in Bulgaria 5 years ago, it is less than 50% now, in the same time the number of the tourist serviced by the agencies has been increased a few times, this was announced to the journalists by the executive director of “TUI Bulgaria” Mr. Valentin Josifov. According to him the trend of increasing the number of tourist from important markets such as Scandinavian, Belgian, Dutch will continue, so do and the tourists from Eastern European countries. 
The trend is similar for the other big tour operator “Tomas Kook”, which reports 2% growth of tourists for the season as total, which is deserved from markets as Belgium – 30%, Holland – 7%, Austria – 17%, Hungary – 26%, Poland – 33%, England – 11%. The ambitions of “Tomas Kook” are to be N1 in the markets of United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries after the purchase of My Travel in June.

The balance for everything achieved in the last 12 months

Has the Bulgarian tourism – one of the most profit-making items in our economy succeeded in this period to stabilize its positions in the world markets?

The first year of joining Bulgaria to the EU has effected favourably on the tourist image of our country. The interest in our country grows, so do and the tourist flow from foreign countries. The numbers prove it as well. In 2007 more than 4 millions of foreigners have preferred to spend their summer or winter holidays in our country, which is with about 7% more compared to 2006. Over 70% of the foreign tourists are from EU – mainly Greece, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Finland ect. The guests in the last 12 months have been increased with over 30%. 

With the financial support of the EU in 2007 a lot of Bulgarian municipalities worked out and executed successfully projects for stable development of the tourism. Only a part of the initiatives for a popularization of the regions as attractive tourist destinations are setting up eco paths, revival of the local folklore and crafts, a restoration of old monasteries. There were trainings of mountain guides, animators and hostel owners, who want to develop a profitable tourist business at some places. The rural type of tourism won new admirers among the foreign guests in 2007. Usually the holiday in a Bulgarian village is combined with horse riding, jeep safari and sightseeing to the neighboring natural and cultural places.  It is sure that the foreigners prefer our country mostly because of its preserved nature and centuries’ cultural and historical heritage.  

This is one of the reasons many foreigners from Great Britain mainly to settle down in Bulgarian villages, which are located in the mountains or at the Black Sea coastline. In 2007 their number has been increased vastly and in some places there are whole foreign colonies, which are trying to adapt to the Bulgarian type of life.

The interest in Bulgaria as a tourist destination led to a growth of the cost of holiday properties this summer. It is about newly built apartments and villas at out seacoast. According to some experts these properties are for sale for extremely lucrative prices, which can be found nowhere in EU.

South Black Sea coast

The southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coastline was visit by a lot of Rumanians this summer. It is very cheap for them and the quality of service is better than in Rumania. Apart of searching a cheap holiday and something new and interesting, the Rumanian tourists visit Bulgaria for shopping tourism, the tour operators explained. According to the tour operators report the number of the tourist from Russia and Belarus is increasing with each coming year. Due to Rumanian low for transit visas, the Ukrainians have limited their journeys by bus but on the other hand the airplane flights have been increased. The number of Russians is increasing due to the fact that holiday settlements have been built on the southern Black Sea coast, where apartments and villas are offered mainly in the Russian market.  There were cruises in Varna and Nesebar by 21 of October. The tourists from passenger ships are almost twice as much than the last year. The cruises implemented one day program, which included a panoramic visit of Sunny Beach, a treat in “Hanska Shatra”, a taste of wines in “Festa Holding” wine cellar and a visit of Bulgarian village. The tourists interested in these journeys are mainly Americans, English and Finns.

The Bulgarian tourist: 

Hotel owners’ expectations for the next year are even more Bulgarians will be coming to the Black Sea resorts for their holidays.Another trend is the increase of the number of tourists who combine their summer holiday with health procedures and prevention. The investors, hotel owners and tour operators think that the interest in health tourism will constantly grow, which can bring wealthier customers.

Trends in the development of tourism in 2008

In their report, the auditing company “Deloitte” indicates the world touristic tendencies for the next 2008.
Thoroughly, there are 5 tendencies that according to the analyzers will play the leading part in the touristic industry during the year 2008.

1.       The journeys will become shorter.More and more tourists give up the traditional two weeks’ vacation, in favor of the shorter travelling – for a week or less. The number of these tourists reaches 47% of the total tourist flow.

2.       GlobalizationThe resorts in style Las Vegas will appear in many parts of the world. It is very popular in Asia, where according to prognoses in 2011, the hazard business will bring income of 30.2 milliards $. In comparison to the past year, the incomes were 14.6 milliards $.

3.       Security.According to a research made by Synovate, 17%of the travelers with airplanes, presume that the introduced high security measurements would make them stop using the air transport for their holidays, and 10% of them won’t be flying even if their business requires so.

4.       New technologies.According to the data in Deloitte’s report, during the past 12 month 83% of the inquired people have used Internet for searching or purchasing a touristic travelling, as they believe that this is a handy and cheap method.

5.       Concern for the environment.The high media interest and the wide access to information concerning the problems of protection of the environment have managed to increase the ecological consciousness of the population to a new stage. According to Natural Marketing Institute data, 17% of the inquired define themselves as “green consumers”.