Bulgarian upgrade

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   Most famous Bulgarian ski resorts are going through a real building boom. As Vladimir Dimitrov, head of travel and advertising department of industrial center at Bulgarian embassy, told BANKO IS reporter, about 20 hotels opened in Bansko and Pamporovo for the winter season. Ft least 50 new hotels opened there during the last two years. ‘The hotels that are being built are all 4- and 5-stars. Old 3* hotels are being renovated and reconstructed to reach 4* level,’ he said. ‘The reason is that Bulgaria is entering EC in 2007, and the quality of service must reach European standards.’ To do that there is a plan to invest 5 million Euro into the development of Borovets resort hotel base.
   But the point is not only complying with the standards. The growing flow of tourists (many of them are from Russia) is demanding the renewing and enlargement of hotel base. According to Vladimir Dimitrov, in 2004 demand for mountain ski Bulgaria has grown approximately by 57% in comparison to 2003. This year demand will grow by 12–15%. Tour operators agree with Mr. Dimitrov in forecasts concerning the growth of demand. This growth is the result of Bulgaria being situated in the moderate price segment, and visa regime in that country is arguably the simplest in Europe, says Dmitry Cherepov, head of Bulgarian department of ICS Travel Group. ‘Booking rooms in 4* and 5* hotels has become more active. Kempinski, for example, is very popular,’ said Xenia Tushova, sales manager at Ertzog company. ‘Tourists understand that the quality here is European, and the prices are still Bulgarian. It’s 2 or 3 times lower.’
   According to the market experts’ evaluation, demand will be distributed as follows: up to 50% of tourists will go to 4* hotels, 30% will stay at 3* hotels, and the remaining 20% will choose 2* or private sector. Thus the building oriented at 4* or better quality hotels is quite reasonable.