17 Март 2008 -  Болгария Вводит Электронные Визы

Болгария вводит для российских туристов электронные визы, которые должны облегчить процедуру оформления документов в преддверии летнего пика туристического сезона. МИД Болгарии 17 марта официально представил в Софии пилотный интернет-проект системы по оформлению электронных виз. Глава внешнеполитического ведомства страны  Ивайло Калфин заявил, что российские туристические фирмы, официально аакредитованные при посольстве Болгарии в Москве с 14 марта получили возможность оформлять визы для своих туристов через интернет. Это существенно  облегчит и ускорит процедуру оформления документов, снизит нагрузку на консульсвих работников и туроператоров.

В ближайшие месяцы такая же система начнет работать в генеральном консульстве Болгарии в Санкт-Петербурге  и в Сербии, в Белграде, а к концу года системой электронных виз будут охвачены все диппредставительства страны, и она станет доступна не только для туроператоров, но и для всех туристов.

В МИДе Болгарии считают, что после введения электронных виз количество российских туристов, отправляющихся в Болгарию, вырастет на 20%. В 2007 году только в Москве болгарским консульством было выдано более 153 тысяч виз.

   17 March 2008 -  Bulgaria Outstrips Greece and Turkey in Tourists' Interest on Moscow Expo

Fortunately for Bulgaria, the interest towards the tourism stand of our country on the 'Intourmarket 2008' tourism expo in Moscow was much higher than the one towards the stands of Greece and Turkey. This is what the State Agency of Tourism (SAT) director Anelia Krushkova announced.

The Bulgarian stand was opened yesterday, it is located immediately next to the entrance of the exposition's hall.

Bulgaria is presented by 30 tourist firms and the representatives of Bulgaria have conducted meetings with the representatives of the tour operators.

At the meeting the Russian tour operators brought forward a few concrete problems connected with the visa issuing for Russian citizens, who want to visit Bulgaria.
The issuing of visas was extremely hard, the Russians complained. Another problem is the lack of airplanes to Bulgaria to transport all the tourists who want to come to Bulgaria.

Today the program of the Bulgarian stand continues with presentation of SPA and Wellness tourism in Bulgaria.

  10 March 2008 - Bulgaria Named Brits Best Value Holiday Hotspot

Bulgaria has cemented its reputation as the cheapest package holiday destination on the British market, a survey shows.

A pint of beer and a Big Mac costs just GBP 1.49 in Bulgaria, making it the world's best value holiday hotspot for Brits, according to the survey of Teletext Holidays, a specialized tourism site.

The World's Best Value Breaks Report surveyed holiday costs in 20 worldwide destinations.

The findings cement Bulgaria's reputation as a cheap package holiday destination, with many Brits now shunning the Costas in favour of Black Sea resorts like Sunny Beach and Golden Sands.

Research revealed that traditional holiday favourites such as Spain, which trailed in 17th place, Italy and France are left firmly in the shade when it comes to value-for-money escapes.

The Teletext Holidays survey claimed average hotel prices in Spain vary between GBP 80- GBP 145 per night, while holidaymakers have to fork out GBP 18 for a three-course meal.

Although Bulgaria boasts the cheapest pint in Bulgaria - costing 49p - beer-lovers can also enjoy a cheap booze-up in Morocco (51p), the Czech Republic (61p) and South Africa (83p).

Marrakech, famed for its winding souks, minarets and medinas, is singled out for offering luxury breaks at affordable prices. A five-star hotel room with breakfast in the city will set the visitor back GBP 80.

Two other African hotspots - Tunisia and Egypt - are also recommended for holidaymakers on a shoestring, while Greece, Turkey and Portugal are other short haul winners.

Surprisingly, two long haul destinations are featured in the top 10. Despite the flight costs, splashing out on a three-course meal in South Africa or India won't cost more than a tenner.

  20 September 2007 - Bulgaria World Champ in Property Prices High Jump

Bulgaria's residential property market has recorded the world's second-highest increase in prices in the second quarter of 2007, overleaped solely by Latvia, according to a new global research.

Residential property prices in Bulgaria jumped by 27.1% in the second quarter of this year, up by nearly 15% in comparison with the same period last year (12.2%).

The strong growth pushed the country up by eight spots in the ranking of Knight Frank, a leading British residential and commercial property consultancy.

While still topping the Knight Frank Global House Price Index, the price rise in Riga is 37.7% for the second quarter of 2007, down from 45.3% for the same period last year.

Global property prices are increasing by 7.8% annually to the second quarter of 2007, according to the research. The figure has shown a 1.8 % fall - from 9.6 % - since the same period in 2006.

House prices across much of Western Europe have stalled or begun to fall. Other previously strong performers in the Knight Frank ranking - notably Spain - have also seen growth rates moderate. Nationally prices in Q2 2007 were more than 5% higher than in Q2 2006.

The slowdown has continued to bite in Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The German residential market also remains in the doldrums, with year-on-year price growth having declined for four consecutive quarters. Likewise, Sweden has also seen negative price growth over the last 12 months.