The construction of a replica of Noah's arc in Bulgaria could bring at least 500,000 tourists more to this small Balkan country. Up to USD 1 B increase in revenues from tourism in 2003 with a tendency for further rise in the coming years is also possible. These are the projections in a survey conducted by the Institute for National Research, presented on Sunday.

The historian Nikolay Kunchev announced last week that the 112 metres long wooden vessel would be built at the Black Sea near the coastal resort Sunny Beach. Actors will represent Noah and his family, pairs of exotic animals will also be part of the new tourist attraction. Some historians maintain that the Black Sea was where the Great Flood described in the Bible took place.

The experts from the institute commented that the new tourist attraction has already stirred the interest of a new type of tourists who come from Western Europe, Japan and U.S. These "new" tourists are with bigger financial resources than those who currently choose to spend their vacation in Bulgaria. Another positive result from the ark due to open in 2003 is the lengthening of the tourist season with perspective for all-year-long use of the hotel infrastructure at the seaside.

The survey of the institute found that Noah's arc project, being a private initiative, could lead to involvement of more private organizations in the reconstruction of other famed Bulgarian historical sites. Thus, it is key for the development of the culture tourism in Bulgaria, the institute concludes.