Travel
and Tourism
 Beautiful
scenery and historical sites have attracted travelers to Bulgaria since
ancient times. Bulgaria is an ideal tourist spot because of its
beautifully diverse natural landscape.
There are endless, sandy beaches along the Black Sea,
wild mountain ranges, green hills, fertile plains, gorges, rivers, and
natural springs. Bulgaria is famous for its long summers, scented rose
fields, and sun-drenched vineyards.
 The
Black Sea coast boasts fine sand and clear waters in the summer.
Snow-clad mountains are ideal for skiing where you can also experience
forests untouched by civilization.
Tourists can enjoy the healthy waters of the hot mineral
springs. Visitors can experience the rich history and tapestry of
culture of Bulgaria as a crossroads between the Orient and Europe.
 Koprivshtitsa
White stone walls, overgrown with ivy and wild geranium,
fence in gardens full of flowers. Vaulted stone bridges run across the
bubbly Topolnitsa river. Heavy, iron-studded gates hide blue, yellow and
red houses with verandas, bay windows and eaves and the spacious rooms
are lit up by brightly coloured rugs and cushions, carved ceilings and
cupboards, copper vessels and ceramics.
Specialists say that every house in Koprivshtitsa is a
work of art. The Oslekov, Kableshkov and Lyutov houses are fine examples
of this.
 Borovets
Situated at 4,000ft above sea level on the northern
slopes of Rila Mountain among age-old pine woods, the ski resort
Borovets is located at the foot of peak Musala (9,000ft) - the highest
one on the Balkans.
Borovets is easily accessible, being at a distance of 50
miles from Sofia and 80 miles. from Plovdiv. The town of Samokov is only
6 miles down the road from the resort
 Melnik
Melnik attracts many Bulgarian and foreign tourists
because of its golden-yellow sand pyramids against the backdrop of the
Pirin mountain. Melnik is also known as an old wine center. The town as
been a popular wine-growing region since 1346 and the Melnik vine had
been brought from Syrian in ancient times.
 Sandanski
Sandanksi is famous throughout Europe for its mineral
springs. There are eight spas in the town park and another three on the
right side of the Sandanska Bistritza river.
Need a Bulgarian Visa?
A
Bulgarian visa (entry or transit) may be obtained at the Bulgarian
Embassy in the US, the Bulgarian Consulate in New York City or at
any other Bulgarian Embassy or Consular Office in other countries.
Citizens of the United States and Canada, the European Union, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand and Israel traveling on regular passports , are
not required visas for stay in Bulgaria not exceeding 30 days. A border
tax (of approx. $20) will be collected from such individuals when
entering the country. If planning to stay more than 30 days, or
traveling on diplomatic or official passport, a visa is required and
must be obtained in advance.
Bulgaria: Beach head 1 Aug 2000
COUNTRY BRIEFING
FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
There are few more promising indications of Western
confidence in Bulgaria's nascent tourist industry than a big German tour
operator sending its staff down to the country's Black Sea coast for a
little rest and relaxation. And while it may seem unlikely in this land
better known in the West for its cheap red wine than its sea, sand and
sun, that is exactly what ITS, a big German tour operator, did in May.
Over 300 ITS employees flew into the Black Sea resort of Albena, and
partied all night at one of its discos.
ITS, it seems, is preaching what it practices: before
the dancing began, Dirk Berlinhof, a company vice-president, pronounced
Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts "at a European level" and
revealed that ITS was bringing 30% more Germans to Bulgaria this year
than last. The company is not alone with its growth projections. There's
talk of the best tourist season for a decade, with a hoped-for 30% rise
in tourist revenues to $1.2bn. Tourist numbers in the first six months
of this year were up by 26.4% on 1999, at almost 925,000.
Although Brits seem to be looking elsewhere this year --
their numbers are down 3.6% -- other nationalities are more than making
up for the loss: 10% more Greeks, and not for want of resorts at home.
Price-sensitive Macedonians, Yugoslavs and Russians are coming back; for
Swedes, who have a long-running love affair with the Bulgarian coast in
general and Albena in particular, Bulgaria is the fourth favourite
holiday destination after the Canary Islands, Tunisia and Morocco. Balts,
Moldovans, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Moldovans have benefited from
relaxed visa regimes. And then there are the Germans: their numbers in
Albena -- now enjoying 100% occupancy -- are up by 80% on last year.
Bulgaria has benefited from an advantageous exchange
rate that leaves it even cheaper than normal. A publicity drive --
including spots on CNN -- has also helped. But the tourist industry
itself is also cleaning up its act. Long stalled by bureaucratic turf
wars and cosy little leasing arrangements, privatisation has moved
forward in the last three years. And companies have made overdue
investments.
Albena, for instance, was sold back in 1997 to a
combination of a management-employee buyout/MEBO company, the
privatisation fund AlbenaInvest, the local municipality and -- last but
by no means least -- Banque Nationale de Paris (with 15%). Sounds
cumbersome? Maybe, but they're getting things done. This year they are
mulling a bond issue of Lv5m ($2.4m), profit reinvestment of Lv8.5m and
overall investment of Lv30m. Construction of a new four-star hotel
called the Arabella is about to start, in co-operation with hotel chain
Iberostar (Spain) and tour operator Neckermann (Germany). It should open
by 2003.
Neckermann is important. Like ITS, it can get tourists
out to places like Bulgaria. And with an aggressive investment programme,
it is committing itself to doing exactly that. In addition to the
Arabella, the company is investing in six existing hotels. And it has
acquired an 8.4% stake in the Golden Sands resort, also in north-eastern
Bulgaria. An 850-bed four-star hotel will be built there too -- once
they have pulled down another that has been out of commission for 11
years.
The third main seaside resort, Sunny Beach, is located
further south, and remains to be privatised. Around 90% of its
facilities have been sold -- some at prices that miffed minority
shareholders -- and only eight hotels there remain owned by the resort:
a 75% stake in what's left is up for grabs in the autumn.
There are, however, clouds on the horizon. For starters,
the resorts now attracting higher-paying Westerners account for a small
part of the industry -- and that is unlikely to change soon. And as long
as Bulgaria competes on its traditional "cheap and cheerful"
strengths, it runs the risk of becoming significantly less cheerful if
it becomes appreciably less cheap. The government is planning to slap
value-added tax on tourist services next year, which isn't going down
well in the trade -- it could drastically reduce tourist numbers by
pricing Bulgaria out of its bargain- seeker market.
Still, where there is Neckermann, there is hope. And not
only Neckermann, incidentally. Small is also beautiful. Take the Italy
hotel in Nesebur -- a small resort whose ancient and medieval buildings
have also put it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Italy once was a
two-floor family house offering spare rooms to tourists. Having spent
two years working in an Italian restaurant in the UK, its owner,
Krasimir Chaushev, came back and started expanding, adding a floor a
year on the strengths of the previous year's profits. He has done pretty
well, as will be confirmed by our correspondent, who has just finished a
stay on the fifth floor. Fortunately, Mr Chaushev plans to invest this
year's profits in a lift.
SOURCE: Business Eastern Europe
For more information
on Travel and Tourism see:
|
|
437
Madison Ave., 32nd Floor, New York City, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 371 2047, (212) 371 2506, Fax: (212) 371 6618
e-mail: lznyc@cwixmail.com,
web site: www.balkan.com
SITA Address: NYCTOLZ
J.F.K. International Airport, East Wing Bldg. 51
Jamaica, NY 11430
Tel: (718) 656 8370, (718) 656 8235, Fax: (718) 656 0119
SITA Address: JFKWALZ
|
|
|
|
|
 PeakView
is an online tourist catalogue where you can make a virtual trip
in some of the most beautiful mountains in Bulgaria; you can also
get useful information about mountain and seaside resorts, hotels,
chalets and to make reservations via Internet. You can visit some
unique historical places of interest as well.
|
|
 Visiting
this site you will know about one of the most interesting
countries in the world situated in Europe - Bulgaria. Superb
nature. Unique finds, Orthodox cloisters, folklore and traditions.
http://www.birdwatchingholidays.com/index.shtml
|
|
 So
you like to travel, to seek new horizons, to experience new
thrills. And you can freely choose. BULGARIA? Why not!
web site: www.travel-bulgaria.com
|
|
 Balkan
Travel & Tours
545 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 586-3522
(888) SOFIA 88
FAX: (212) 247-3810
email: balkantravel@worldnet.att.net
|
|
 2116
Walsh Avenue Suite C6 Santa Clara,
CA 95050
Tel: (408) 406-6811, Fax: (408)748-0596
e-mail: info@bulgaria.com,
web site: www.bulgaria.com
|
|
 
|
|
Bulgaria:
Map, Driving directions, etc