Grown Apart

Bulgaria has registered a 30 to 40 percent increase in the number of Russian tourist visits in summer 2010 in comparison to summer 2010 figures, Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) chairperson Blagoi Ragin said as quoted by Douma daily.

Bulgaria's tourism sector is expected to register the biggest growth in Russian visits in 2010, Ragin said.

If the visa regime between Bulgaria and Russia were canceled, the number of Russians who visit Bulgaria will increase two times.

Germans are the biggest group of visitors from another country. The number of Russian, Romanian, UK and Greek tourists is significant, as well.

Tourists from Central European countries have also rediscovered Bulgaria. The number of Bulgarian travelers in local resorts increased 20 percent, as well.