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Minister Expects Increase of Last Minute Russian Tourists to Bulgaria

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova expects that there will be an increase in the number of Russian tourists deciding to visit Bulgaria in the last minute.

Angelkova stated that there was a 30-40 % increase in the interest of Russian tourists towards Bulgaria compared to last month, largely due to the stabilisation of the rouble.

The Tourism Ministry is receiving information on the number of Russian tourists on a daily basis from the largest tourist organisation in Russia, daily Dnevnik reports.

The Tourism Ministry transferred BGN 331 000 to the Foreign Ministry for expanding the composition of consular services in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Georgia and aiding the issue of visas in the space of three days.

According to different forecasts from the past months, the decrease in Russian tourists this summer is expected to reach up to 60 %.

Bulgarian consulates inform of an influx of people wanting to spend their holidays in Bulgaria, which could be a positive sign that the negative forecasts will not be fulfilled.

As a measure for compensating the crisis in the sector, Angelkova pointed to the stimulation of domestic tourism with funds allocated under the Regional Development Operational Programme.

At present, the ministry together with representatives of the local authorities and the municipalities was in the process of launching an outdoor campaign.

The campaign foresees for the cultural-historical sites and tourist attractions of a municipality to be advertised on the territory of another municipality.

Angelkova added that talks were in progress with the largest international tour operators for the advertisement and positioning of Bulgaria as a year-round tourist destination.

Source: novinite.com