Bulgaria Attracts Three Times Many Tourists As Romania

Three times more foreign tourists prefer visiting Bulgaria to Romania, the Romanian newspaper Capital reported. Nearly 140 000 tourists are expected to visit the Romanian coast this year, a 40 per cent increase compared to last year. The figures, however, are three times lower than that of tourists coming to Bulgaria, and 10 times lower than those preferring a vacation in Turkey.

With the approach of Bulgaria's accession to the EU, Sofia would also become an attractive destination for foreign tourists, the German DPA agency reported. The entrance of low-cost flight company Wizz Air to the Bulgarian market signifies foreign interest in Bulgarian tourist destinations.

The World Tourism Organisation predicts that by 2020 Bulgaria will have a population of approximately 7.9 million people and that 10 million tourists will visit the country annually. As a result, the coastal real estate market will develop even more. The agency, quoted by the Bulgarian News Agency, says that one of the factors making Bulgaria an attractive destination is the low prices compared to Western Europe.

Official statistics show that Bulgarian revenue from tourism increased by nearly 20 per cent in 2004.

Sofia Echo
18 September 2005