Bulgaria and Russia will work to increase the number of tourists in summer 2017

Bulgaria and Russia will work together for the growth of the Russian tourists in Bulgaria in summer 2017. This was agreed by the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria Nikolina Angelkova and the Head of the Federal Agency on Tourism Oleg Safonov. In the past summer our country reported 40% growth of the Russian tourists. Around 28% of them stay in accommodation facilities with over 10 beds and around 12% is the growth of tourists staying in their own properties. Taking this data as a basis, it was agreed to work toward achieving the same levels for summer 2017.

In late February or early March a round table will be organized for discussing the issues of tourism between Bulgaria and Russia. It will be attended by representatives of the industry and local authorities of the two countries. Safonov added that in order to keep the pace of work, he hopes to find continuity on the Bulgarian side. Among the most important measures, which must be continued, are the promotion of children’s tourism and camps, cultural-historical tourism, balneology and SPA tourism, development of specific routes for Russian tourists etc.

Oleg Safonov stressed that it was his first meeting with a foreign minister for 2017, because he is aware of the good and consistent work in the field of tourism over the past years. “Russian tourists are among the main markets for the Bulgarian tourism and the results reported for the year 2016 are felt by the entire sector”, said Minister Angelkova. She stressed that the recognition of Bulgaria as best destination for a family vacation by the Russian tourists, which was presented by the National Geographic Traveler, is a high assessment for the entire sector, which should be defended during the new year.

They both discussed the travelling conditions between both countries. According to the head of the Federal Agency on Tourism of Russia, the relief in the visa issuing procedures for Russian tourists should be kept and the endeavors for their expansion should be continued. Oleg Safonov underlined the efforts of the Bulgarian government in respect of guaranteeing the security of the Russian tourists in Bulgaria. “I would like to confirm that the government of Bulgaria has taken all measures to ensure the safety of our citizens when traveling across your country. For us Bulgaria is a friendly and safe destination and we greet you for the increased flow of tourists”, he said. Minister Angelkova underlined that this was the main priority for both the previous summer season and the current winter season.

Russia is among the most important generating markets for our tourist industry. For the past two years since the creation of the Ministry of Tourism as an independent administration, Bulgaria has participated in over 44 fairs, exhibitions and international meetings in Russia, where it presented itself as a tourism destination with stands, press conferences, presentations, expositions etc. Bulgaria was also presented to the Russian market with participation in 32 national exhibitions and Days of Bulgaria in Moscow and the regions of the Russian Federation, in which events over 200 Bulgarian companies took part. At the invitation of the Federal Agency on Tourism our country was presented in four regional tourist forums - in Saint Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Samara and Kazan, where over 3,000 Russian regional tour operators and tour agents got acquainted with the tourist opportunities of the country. As a result of all these efforts a serious growth of Russian tourists was reported for the period January - November 2016. The federation holds 4^th place in the ranking of the NSI for the number of foreign tourists visiting Bulgaria - over 570 thousand people.