print
send this article
Head of the State Agency for Tourism (SAT) Anelia Kroushkova in an interview with Focus news agency concerning the financial crisis and the manner in which it is affecting tourism.
Q. What are statistics showing about tourism in Bulgaria over the first six months of 2009?
A. Unfortunately, we still lack figures about the performance during the first half of the year. An initial decrease of 6.6 percent was registered during the first two months. In April and the beginning of May we managed to overcome the decrease. A new decrease of 7.6 percent was registered in the beginning of June. The situation is rather dynamic and figures constantly change. We registered a decrease in the visits of tourists from EU countries, who form nearly 70 percent of all foreign visitors. The decrease totals 5.2 percent. Revenue from tourism reached 3.1 percent.
Q. Visits from which countries are registering increase?
A. Romania is registering an incredible increase of nearly 80 percent since the beginning of the year and 19.4 percent at the moment. Visits from countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia also increased. Moldova, Lithuania and Israel also mark an increase. Major markets register decrease. Greece registers a decrease of 11.3 percent, the UK registered 21 percent decrease, Germany – 10 percent and Russia registered a decrease of 7.3 percent.
Q. What type of tourism attracts most tourists?
A. Higher quality of service attracts more tourists. Bulgaria is to be saved by the good ratio between price and quality. Other countries are offering major decreases, while we managed to maintain prices and the relatively high amount of visits. Yet, the visits of Bulgarians abroad decreased 14 percent. Most Bulgarians visited Greece. An increase in the visits to Turkey was registered.
Q. Is this decrease an effect of the crisis?
A. Yes.
Q. Did the tourism sector manage to create good offers to counter the crisis?
A. Many good offers can be found. I visited the seaside last week. I cannot accept claims that Bulgarian offers are more expensive than those in foreign resorts. Offers suitable for all types of tourists are available. The price of food decreased.
Q. What are statistics showing about tourism in Bulgaria over the first six months of 2009?
A. Unfortunately, we still lack figures about the performance during the first half of the year. An initial decrease of 6.6 percent was registered during the first two months. In April and the beginning of May we managed to overcome the decrease. A new decrease of 7.6 percent was registered in the beginning of June. The situation is rather dynamic and figures constantly change. We registered a decrease in the visits of tourists from EU countries, who form nearly 70 percent of all foreign visitors. The decrease totals 5.2 percent. Revenue from tourism reached 3.1 percent.
Q. Visits from which countries are registering increase?
A. Romania is registering an incredible increase of nearly 80 percent since the beginning of the year and 19.4 percent at the moment. Visits from countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia also increased. Moldova, Lithuania and Israel also mark an increase. Major markets register decrease. Greece registers a decrease of 11.3 percent, the UK registered 21 percent decrease, Germany – 10 percent and Russia registered a decrease of 7.3 percent.
Q. What type of tourism attracts most tourists?
A. Higher quality of service attracts more tourists. Bulgaria is to be saved by the good ratio between price and quality. Other countries are offering major decreases, while we managed to maintain prices and the relatively high amount of visits. Yet, the visits of Bulgarians abroad decreased 14 percent. Most Bulgarians visited Greece. An increase in the visits to Turkey was registered.
Q. Is this decrease an effect of the crisis?
A. Yes.
Q. Did the tourism sector manage to create good offers to counter the crisis?
A. Many good offers can be found. I visited the seaside last week. I cannot accept claims that Bulgarian offers are more expensive than those in foreign resorts. Offers suitable for all types of tourists are available. The price of food decreased.
Comments (0 comments)