Stability Reigns: Sofia Real Estate Market Thrives Despite Uncertain Times
The real estate sector in Sofia has shown resilience in the face of ongoing pandemic challenges, maintaining stability across all segments in the first quarter of the year
Bulgaria hopes to retain its appeal among Russian tourists by offering competitively low prices and easing visa requirements, the Bulgarian Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova has said.
“During this season Bulgaria will remain one of the most popular destinations among Russians,” Angelkova said in an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency. “Our country remains the cheapest among all European destinations offered on the Russian market.”
Holidaying in Bulgaria is 15 to 20 percent cheaper compared with popular European summer destinations such as Greece, Italy and Spain with prices at Bulgarian resorts comparable to those in Egypt, according to Angelkova.
Yet, the Tourism Ministry is forecasting a 20% drop in the number of Russian tourists coming to Bulgaria during Summer 2015.
The decrease in the number of Russian tourists visiting Bulgaria is illustrated by the number of visas issued this year, TASS said citing data of the Russian Union of Travel Industry.
The number of visas issued to Russian nationals since the beginning of 2015 reached 200,000 only on 19 August, while last year that number was reached on 7 July and in 2013 – on 26 June.
The number of Russian tourists who visited Bulgarian resorts fell by 3.7% last year, Angelkova said.
Price is the leading factor for Russian tourists choosing a holiday destination this summer, Angelkova told TASS. Three- and four-star hotels are most popular with late bookings prevailing and only reaching four or five weeks in July, she added.
Angelkova also pledged that the requirements for issuing Bulgarian visas to Russian tourists will be eased. Bulgaria has already increased the number of staff at its consular offices in Russia and plans to open new ones.
“The opening of a consular office in Yekaterinburg is a big plus for the markets in Russia’s regions,” Angelkova said.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Bulgaria has witnessed a bustling winter tourism season, with a total of 1.8 million tourists gracing its picturesque landscapes from December 1 to March 25
FlixBus, the renowned European bus company, is set to launch new routes to and from Bulgaria in anticipation of the summer season
As the summer season draws near, the issue of staffing in the tourism sector in Bulgaria comes to the forefront once again, with the workforce having to depend on individuals from foreign countries for yet another year
Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Anna Natova, announced the commencement of construction for an outdoor parking lot at Terminal 2 of Sofia Airport
Vacationing at the seaside, whether in our country or abroad, is reasonably priced
As the May holidays mark the onset of sea tourism, Bulgarians and foreigners preparing for their annual getaways are facing a stark reality: trips this year will come with a heftier price tag
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022