News

Bulgaria is a holiday address, destined by nature and it is a spur of the moment affair to pick the timing for a visit here. As calls for developing year-round destinations gain momentum in the country, new opportunities tempt those eager for adventure and special interest tourism.Climbing up the rock, I could hardly believe it was me who was hanging on a rope over the wide chasm of a cave. Well, it was me but only after contacting an adventure and special interest tour operator for my autumn vacation.

A sole Bulgarian in a group of French and German enthusiasts, it dawned on me that the country's potential as an alternative tourism destination is beginning to be recognized better by foreigners than by locals. It is namely alternative tourism that gives Bulgaria a good chance to attract a wider mix of visitors from all over the world. But only it plays the PR game right and manages to create its own image to stand out from neighbouring rivals Greece and Turkey...

About 5,000 villages in Bulgaria have registered a non-governmental organization to seek the promotion of rural tourism, more investments and modernized farming.

Among the association's objectives are to popularize and preserve Bulgarian folklore heritage and traditions and to enhance the access to information for people living in the countryside.

Reduction of the unemployment rate in Bulgaria's rural areas and improvement of education and health care will be also on top of priorities for the new Association of Bulgarian Village.

Archaeological finds in the centre of Sofia would be connected in an underground antique tourism complex.The network would include the ancient fortress Serdika, located close to the presidency, as well as the St Petka church and the recently found Roman theatre on Dondoukov Boulevard, Novinar newspaper reported.

The value-added tax (VAT) for hotel services will become seven per cent starting January 1 2007, according to the VAT draft law accepted in Parliament today.
The seven per cent will gradually increase to reach 20 per cent, Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski said.

Bulgaria is having something of a tourism boom at the moment, what with ski resorts such as Bansko and seaside resorts on the Black Sea.Now its Ihtiman and Sliven golf courses have gained an official licence to use the handicap index system of the American Golf Association, according to the Sofia News Agency, so now there is even more reason to check out some of Europe's best-kept secrets.
 

Sea and ski have been the traditional focuses for Bulgarian property investment; however, golf is just beginning to emerge as the third market for overseas investment. Currently there are just three golf courses in Bulgaria, namely St Sofia Golf Club & Spa set in Ravno Pole 15 minutes from the capital and two owned by Air Sofia, Ihtiman, 40km from the Sofia and Sliven in the heart of Bulgaria 90km from the Black Sea. All three have 18 holes and by all accounts are up there with the best of them. Air Sofia is also in the throes of constructing their third and fourth courses in the Lulin Mountains close to Sofia and in Razgrad 130km from Varna in the east of the country. Bulgaria is keen to capitalize on the rapid increase in foreign interest, using golf as a ‘carrot’ and this quartet will shortly be joined by several other courses to satisfy demand.

A lot more people these days are choosing Bulgaria for their summer holiday. As more and more people are discovering Bulgaria as holiday destination the tour operators and flight companies are starting to expand their service into this country. There is still an awful lot for Bulgaria to do before they get accession into the EU (which is currently set for 2007).

The Rodopi Mountain is a place where each tree knows some legend and each meadow can tell a glorious story. It is a birth place of the legendary ancient musician Orpheus and a home of the unique wind instrument – the Rodopi Bagpipe.
The sound that swarms from the bagpipe is nothing else but the spirit of the Rodopi Mountain. As you hear the first chords of this instrument your can imagine sight of unapproachable peaks, venerable woods and mythical creatures. On 5-th and 6-th of August our team had the opportunity to feel this incredible excitement.

Bulgaria is becoming increasingly popular among Britons keen to go skiing but not wanting to pay Zermatt prices.
British Airways is among those airlines that fly to the eastern European nation, which describes itself as the "cheap ski vacation in the far east of new Europe".
The resorts of Borovets, Pamporovo and Bansko are all popular, with Austrian Olympic ski champion Franz Klammer singling out the latter for particular praise.

Bulgaria, comprising three distinct regional micro-property markets – the mountains, the city and the Black Sea Coast – has experienced a significant shift between its regions’ dominance in terms of real estate sales. One of the largest agents of Bulgarian real estate reports that it is one of the hottest property markets in the world, where Gulf investors are increasingly investing their money. By mid 2006, the mountain regions accounted for up to 50 per cent of the country’s real estate sales replacing the Black Sea Coast as market leader, which accumulates just 30 per cent.