Home Sweet Home: The Reality of Housing in Bulgaria Revealed
New data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) sheds light on the housing landscape in Bulgaria, painting a picture of the majority of Bulgarians residing in older homes.
Plans by Bulgarian road hauliers to halt traffic at crossings on the border with Greece during Orthodox Easter holidays threaten to incur huge losses to tour operators and hotel owners, bTV broadcaster reported on Friday, citing industry sources.
Truckers have announced plans to seal off all crossings at Bulgaria’s border with Greece from April 29 to May 8 in a tit-for-tat action following a blockade of the crossings at the common border by Greek farmers earlier this year. The farmers disrupted motor traffic across the border to protest against pension and tax reforms proposed by the Greek government as part of funding arrangement with the country’s international creditors.
The Bulgarian economy had suffered estimated losses of more than EUR 11 M, while those for the tourist sector exceeded EUR 1.2 M as a result of disrupred road traffic.
The risk of remaining stuck at the border is likely to discourage about a fifth of an estimated 110,000 Bulgarians who are expected to travel to Greece for Orthodox Easter holidays, according to forecasts of the Institute for Analyses and Assessments in Tourism, bTV said. Those who are likely to drop plans to travel to Greece around Easter include mainly people who won’t be traveling on package tours, according to the projections of the Sofia-based industry association.
Disruptions to motor traffic could also discourage some Greek tourists to visit Bulgaria during the holiday period. An estimated 80,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Bulgaria from Greece, which also marks Easter according to the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Total spending by those visitors is expected at between BGN 42 M to BGN 47 M in case border crossings remain open.
The Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators has pledged to seek alternative routes to take Bulgarian tourists to Greece in case of disruption of motor traffic at the common border, bTV said.
Booked trips wouldn’t be cancelled but would be re-routed through Macedonia or Turkey, with the additional costs of longer travel to be borne by the tour operators, the Association has decided.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
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
In an unexpected turn, Bulgaria and Turkey have been notably absent from the list of the ten cheapest European summer destinations for British tourists
Bansko, Bulgaria's premier mountain resort, experienced a surge in winter tourism, with more than 190,000 visitors flocking to its slopes during the season
Recent data from the German Tourist Board show a discernible trend, indicating an increased interest among Bulgarians in visiting Germany
In a momentous occasion marking the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area by air and sea, Balchik Airport is set to witness a remarkable gathering of more than 20 planes from Romania
The flights will operate every Wednesday and Saturday.
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022