Bayko Baykov

The Bulgarian tour operators are sustaining heavy losses due to the decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country.

In the first six months of the year, the number of foreigners visiting Bulgaria amounted to 280 000 tourists, daily Dnevnik informs.

Bulgaria will try to boost visitor numbers by offering combined tourism products including trips to neighboring Balkan countries.

Experts and representatives of a range of political parties have agreed on the need to establish a separate Tourism Ministry.

Bulgaria's goals and priorities in the sphere of tourism were discussed at a public discussion at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).

Some 15 000 – 20 000 Russians will not be able to spend their holidays in Bulgaria due to bankruptcies of Russian tour operators.

In an interview for Monitor daily, Bayko Baykov, Chair of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents, argued that the decline was observable on all outbound markets for Russia without exception.

The 4.5-5.5% tourism growth planned for 2014 is currently implemented, Anelia Genova of Bulgaria's Ministry of Economy told the National Radio (BNR).

According to Genova, despite the heavy rainfalls and the crisis on some markets essential for the country, the tourist data for Bulgaria is quite optimistic.