GENERAL INFORMATION
The homelands of mythical singer Orpheus, the lands of the oldest gold in the world will enchant you with the wealth of colours throughout its four seasons, with the golden shade of its fine seas sand and of its heavy wheat fields, with the crimson colour of Bulgarian roses and wine.
Bulgaria is a treasure throve waiting to be discovered by you!
Bulgaria would surprise pleasantly every first-time visitor with the variety of its beautiful landscapes, with the favourable for a round-the-year recreation climate, with its diverse relief, with the richness of healing mineral waters, with its good facilities and infrastructure, with its thirteen century old cultural and historic heritage, with its preserved traditions, customs and folklore, delicious cuisine, hospitable population, security and safety, which Bulgaria guarantees to its visitors.
Bulgaria offers for each age and every taste a variety of possibilities for active outdoor recreation, for adventures, for specialized types of tourism (rural tourism, eco-tourism, special interest tourism, etc.) sport, entertainment, incentive tours, congress tourism, passive recreation, rehabilitation, etc. at extremely good price/quality ratio.
Bulgarian tourism in facts and figures
In 1998 international tourism provided revenues of 919 million USD for the balance of payments of Bulgaria (exclusive of international transportation), which accounted for some 7.5% of the GDP. Together with the domestic tourism, the share of the tourism sector in the GDP exceeds 10.5-10.7%. According to preliminary estimates, a total of 900-905 million USD in revenues from international tourism are expected for 1999, since the country experienced some reduction in the total number of travels from certain countries during the Kosovo crisis. The total number of ravels for touristic purposes were not affected. The considerable reduction in the number of tourists from Russia and the smaller number from Great Britain were compensated for by increases from Germany, Greece, the Scandinavian countries, etc. In 1999 a record was registered in the absolute number of German and Greek tourists.
Over 131,000 people are directly engaged in tourism, which is of considerable importance during the period of transition and structural reforms undergoing the country with a view to its accession to the European Union.
In 1998 over 2,384,000 foreign tourists (children included) visited Bulgaria, which exceeds the 1998 level by 2.1%. Border statistics data over the first eleven months of 1999 indicate an increase in the number of visits for touristic purposes by 3.92% (exclusive of the children, which have been written down in their patents' passports). Annual data for 1999 are expected to be ready by the end of March 2000.
In 1998 Bulgaria was visited by a total of 15,165 Dutch nationals for touristic purposes (+83.6%, compared to 1997), whereby the Netherlands ranked 19th in the list of markets, generating tourists for our country. Over the eleven months of 1999, the number of Dutch tourists slightly exceeds the number for the preceding year (+0.1%). Probably we will finish the year with this percent as well.
In 1998 a total of 10,168 Bulgarian nationals travelled to the Netherlands. Between January and September 1999 alone a total of 14,376 Bulgarians travelled to the Netherlands (+81.6%, compared to the same period of 1998).
The factors, which played a positive role for tourism development in Bulgaria over the last year are as follows:
*The political and financial stability in the country (1 BGN=1 DM)
*The operative regulatory base in the field of tourism, regulating and controlling the performance of the tourism activities and guaranteeing consumer protection;
*The visa-free for nationals from EU and EFTA countries;
*Convenient transportation and transport links to and within the country;
*The process of privatization, which is drawing to a close and the increasingly greater share of private initiative. Over the last years, together with big German touroperators Neckermann, ITS and TUI a process of renovation of a number of sites in the basic Black Sea resorts was launched. The new owners renovate and modernize the technical facilities of the tourist sites as well. The share of private hotels, offering comfortable stay and quality extra services at reasonable prices, is increasing. Prestigious foreign tourist companies/chains find their way in the country. Data show that among total investments between 1992-1998 tourism ranks fourth (after industry, trade and finance), accounting for 5.04% of the Direct Foreign Investments.
*The National Police authorities take special cares to guarantee the tourists' safe stay in the country. Mountain and Sea Rescue Services are operating as well. Special security measures are undertaken in most resorts;
*The operating territorial structure of tourism, now including fifty local and four regional tourism organizations. Together with the branch and product associations they have great importance for coordinating the efforts of all interested organizations and responsible institutions at a national, regional and local level, for diversifying and improving tourism product.
*The existing twenty-three tourist information centers, providing services for the tourists and being a part of the national tourist information system.
*The good price/quality ratio of the tourist product.
Our chief concern is to provide a pleasant and worthy stay to Bulgaria's guests. In this direction, the government has undertaken a number of measures, which will guarantee the stable development of the tourism industry; will lead to an expansion and diversification of the offered product, to a still better quality of the services so that our guests would receive the best and to prefer to spend their vacation here again.
TYPES OF TOURISM IN BULGARIA
Ski Tourism in Bulgaria
The mountains of Rila, Pirin, Rhodopes, Vitosha and Stara Planina offer conditions for ski tourism and winter sports.
Bulgarian international mountain resorts of Pamporovo, Borovets, Bansko offer ski pists of various difficulty and ski facilities, convenient hotels, huts, offering very good opportunities for active winter tourism or just for recreation, round-the-year operating facilities and infrastructure undergoing renovation and development.
The relief on the territory of Bulgaria is extremely diverse - on an area on 111,000 sq km between 0-2,925 m of altitude there is a variety of vast valleys and low lands, hills and mountains, extremely beautiful rock phenomena, glaciered, abrasion, erosion and karst formations, including 4,300 caves. This allows for practicing not only hiking, but rock climbing, mountaineering and spelunking. The high mountain areas provide favourable conditions for skiing as well as for ski-mountaineering, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing.
Bulgarian sea resorts offer various opportunities for climate-treatment and balneological healing, yachting, surfing, water skiing, underwater fishing, diving and other water sports, different types of entertainment. The 1999 Blue Flag prise was awarded to Russalka, Albena, Golden Sands, Rivierra, Sunny Day, Elenite, Nessebur beach, Sunny Beach, Pomorie beach, Dyuni, International Youth Center of Primorsko.
There are developed routes combining sea and eco-tourism and providing an opportunity for photo and eco-tourism, sightseeing natural, archaeological and cultural places of interest.
Rural and Ecological Tourism Many Bulgarian villages, which have preserved their traditional appearance and genuine spirit, situated in environmentally clean regions, open their doors with hospitality to those willing to share the preserved rich Bulgarian traditions and folklore, agriculture, delicious and varied local cuisine, preserved old crafts, the forthright human relations.
The Bulgarian village atmosphere can be experienced in Koprivshtitsa, Bozhentsi, Arbanassi, Elena, Ribaritsa, Byala Cherkva, Zheravna, Kotel, the village of Voinezha, Voneshta Voda (near Veliko Tarnovo), Buinovtsi, Miikovtsi (near Elena) in Sredna Stara Planina Mountains; the village of Batovo, Sokolovo, Strazhitsa, Topola, Balgarevo, Kamen Bryag, Tyulenovo, Kardan, Preseltsi, Krassen and othersd in Northeast Bulgaria.
Ecological tourism has a significant potential for development - diverse relief, the richness of land formations, biological diversity and environmentally clean regions.
There is an existing network of three national and nine nature parks, a number of reserves and natural places of interest, with operative visitors' centers, as well as marked mountain paths with a total length of 37,000 km. The Pirin National Park and the Srebarna Biosphere Reserve (lake) are included in the UNESCO list.
The seven attractive tourist routes - ecopaths - established in the recent two years are gaining greater popularity. To provide for the security of tourists inaccessible and picturesque territories in mountainous and semi-mountainous regions have been equipped with bridges, parapets, stairs, etc.
Bulgaria offers excellent possibilities for recreation in the hot summer days in the cool of mountains, for photo-safari, bird watching and plant observation, as well as for rafting, canoeing, delta-gliding and para-gliding. The routes developed on the territory of the Sredna Stara Planina Mountain, Pirin Mountain and along the Black Sea coast provide possibilities for biking, and the facilities in the Russalka resort, Albena resort, Golden Sands resort, Sunny Beach, Primorsko, Bankya, Shoumen and some private farms offer opportunities for horse riding.
Balneology
Balneological tourism is one of Bulgaria’s main tourism products. Thanks to the abundance of 600 mineral spas, favourable for the treatment of different diseases, as well as for prophylactics. In Bulgaria there are a number of balneological hotels with modern equipment and skilled staff.
Hunting Tourism
Hunting tourism relies on the big variety of game: red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild goat, boar, bear, grouse, hare, partridge, pheasant and many others. Bulgaria ranks second in the world in terms of the quality of shot trophies. Hunting lodges offer comfortable stay and all modern conveniences.
Culture and Incentive Tourism
It presents the rich legacy of the country and the modern accomplishments of Bulgarian culture. The possibilities for visits to valuable monuments dating back to different historical epochs are of interest for tourists - pre-historical findings, Thracian tombs, artifacts from the Greek epoch, Roman fortifications, historical monuments from the times of the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, architectural landmarks from the period of the Revival, which have shaped the outlook of whole towns and villages or parts of them - Veliko Tarnovo, Ancient Plovdiv, Arbanassi, Bozhentsi, Zheravna, Tryavna, Kovachevitsa, Leshten, Shiroka Luka, Dolen, etc.
There is a growing interest in pilgrimage travels and visits to religious sites and Christian and Muslim sacred places in the country. The 160 orthodox monasteries situated in attractive natural environment are of interest for the development of religious tourism, about twenty of which offer possibilities for tourist stays. Rila monastery, Bachkovski monastery, Rozhenski monastery, Troyanski monastery, Zemenski monastery, Preobrazhenski monastery, Aladzha monastery are among the most often visited monasteries.
Guests to Bulgaria may become acquainted with the ancient production activities in the Bulgarian lands - production of wine, attar of roses, etc., to participate in a course in traditional Bulgarian craftsmanship - embroidery, knitting, wood-carving, pottery, etc., to study authentic Bulgarian folklore or to participate in agriculture activities, to observe genuine folk rituals and customs, etc. Acquaintance with traditional crafts, brief demonstrations and hobby courses are offered in the Etara open-air ethnographic museum near Gabrovo, the old Varosha neighbourhood in Blagoevgrad, Bansko, the Kulata ethnographic museum in Kazanluk, Ancient Plovdiv, Sofia, etc. The Staria Dobrich and Chiflika ethnographic complexes (near Albena resort) and the ethnographic complex in the village of Brashlian (near Malko Tarnovo) are of interest too.
Bulgaria offers to arts lovers a rich cultural calendar and a possibility to visit prestigious international festivals in the field of theatre, cinema, opera, ballet, concerts of world famous musicians, orchestras and bands, different exhibitions, etc.
The over 30,000 historical monuments from different historical epochs, 7 of which are included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage, 36 culture reserves, 160 monasteries, 330 museums and galleries, registered in Bulgaria, are a prerequisite for the development of this type of tourism.
In the year 2000 visitors of Bulgaria will have the opportunity to enjoy the magic and charm of the Bulgarian folklore. All connoisseurs and admirers of our ancient traditions are invited to the biggest events of this type: the 8th edition of the National Bulgarian Folklore Gathering in Koprivshtitsa (11-13 August 2000) in which foreign bands performing Bulgarian folklore can participate; the Rozhen Sings National Gathering (21-27 August 2000); the International Folklore Festival in Bourgas (20-31 August 2000) and the Folklore Christmas Holidays in Varna (15-22 December 2000).
Discover thousand-years old Bulgaria in the new Millenium!
For more information: www.mtt.govrn.bg/tourinfo or www.bulgariatravel.net.
Entertainment
The great number of restaurants and pubs offer Bulgarian, Slav, European, Arabian, Chinese, Indian, American and other types of cuisine, as well as good servicing and entertainment. Tourists can visit night clubs, variety shows, casinos and discos.
Some very useful links: www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com, www.gbg.bg, www.bulgaria.com, www.google.com, www.altavista.com, www.lycos.nl, www.bg/museum/museum.htm, museum.web.bg, www.goldensands.bg, www.travel-bulgaria.com/riviera, www.travel-bulgaria.com/bata, www.milena.bg, www.terrabulgaria.nl, www.online.bg, www.dir.bg, www.winebg.com, www.econ.bg, www.bba.bg, www.bgtextiles.org, www.pirin-sings.com, www.meteo.bg, www.goglobal-travel.com, www.dimeca.netbg.com, www.stoep.dordt.nl