Informes Sectoriales OP - Icex

TOURISM AND RELATED SERVICES IN BULGARIA
town of Smolyan region where expectations are to improve significantly the tourist
infrastructure – construction of new ski lifts, etc.
According to opinion of both experts and tourists, Albena is still the most harmoniously
developed sea resort in this country. It is well built, with retained green areas
and spaces between the hotels. The resort has been striving to start the season earlier
and make it longer. The inflow of Bulgarian tourists has increased due to the
various offers – “all inclusive”, “last minute”, etc. In mid-2005, Albena announced it
was completing the construction of a small-aircraft airport at the town of Primorsko.
The planned investment amounts to around BGN 1.2 mln.
According to NSI data, the number of tourists in Sunny Beach resort last year has
doubled compared to 2001. Season 2005 witnessed substantially enhanced material
assets – over 42 000 beds in 145 hotels in the eastern part only. Active construction
is going on in the western part. The adjacent settlements of Ravda and Saint Vlas
have been developing with hectic pace, too, and have merged into Sunny Beach.
Golden Sands resort has 32 000 beds currently, and experts forecast their number
can reach 50 000 in near future. Investment in the specialised infrastructure on the
Black Sea coast is a fact. Simultaneously, specific problems emerge, e.g. now around
80% of the specialised infrastructure is concentrated in 20 municipalities that occupy
just 9% of the country’s territory.
The specialised infrastructure is being developed in the inner parts of Bulgaria, too.
The tourism material assets are being gradually renovated in regions like Tryavna,
Koprivshtitsa, Melnik, Troyan, Gabrovo, etc., thanks to the pro-active stance of some
local authorities to attract funds under different programs and the establishment of
public-private partnerships.
Spanish Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in Sofia 68