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Flip Byrnes uncovers the best ski resorts in eastern Europe

In Bulgaria, it's hard to spot the locals for all the English descending here every season. Their increasing numbers have made this the flavour of the month for one reason only. It's cheap. Crazily, undeniably, ridiculously cheap. A three-star hotel for seven nights with breakfast and dinner is from GBP 165. That's great, but is there still snow? Yes.

Britons' insatiable appetite for property bargains has led more house-hunters to the picturesque Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria, which is emerging as a prime place for investors to buy real estates.

A total of 35 Britons have purchased apartments in the freshly minted Monastery 2 complex in the winter resort of Pamporovo, huddled up in the heart of the mountains, 260 km from the capital Sofia, Trud Daily reported.

The four-star ready-made apartments have been acquired prior to the official opening of the complex on Saturday.

The number of British tourists visiting Bulgaria's winter resorts is expected to jump up by 50% this season, as compared to winter 2003, media said Sunday.

Up to 50,000 Britons are expected in Bulgaria over the next months, Bulgaria's Dnevnik daily said, citing data from the World Travel Market bourse in London.

Still, a good snowfall is believed to be crucial for attracting the British interest.

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Pamporovo, one of Bulgaria's biggest winter resorts expects an increased number of tourists coming to enjoy their winter holiday in the mountain.

Hotel union "Pamporovo 21 century" predicted that there would be at least a 12% increase in the number of tourists coming to the resort in the winter season. The forecast is based on the already singed contracts with foreign agencies.

The official opening of the winter season in Pamporovo will take place December 11.

Pamporovo is expected to meet the upcoming winter season with a new 5-star hotel, along with a new ski lift and many ski facilities.

The millionth passenger to land on the coastal airport of Burgas this year was heartily welcomed by Transport Minister Nikolay Vassilev on Saturday.

The 37-year-old electrical engineer Briton Paul Pierson, his wife Saritta and their two daughters Ashlie, 8, and Laura, 4, came to Bulgaria on board of a Bulgaria Holidays flight.

The number of tourists from the European Union (EU) coming to Bulgaria has gone up by over 46 percent.

More and more tourists from UK, Germany as well as from different Central European countries come to Bulgaria. Their number has increased by 25,3 percent just in five months, Bulgaria's Economy Ministry reported.

Health tourism will seek for a special government strategy of development in all of its types, including spa, wellness and illness.

Tour operators have unified efforts to draft a memorandum project for that purpose in response to the increased interest toward health tourism options in Bulgaria.

Interview with the mayor of Bansko Mr. Alexandar Kravarov
250,000 skiers and tourists visited the town of Bansko during the winter season, says Mr. Kravarov, the mayor of the town. He was one of the first people to support the construction of the major new ski center

American tour operators are in Bulgaria to explore spa, rural and eco tourism opportunities.

The 15 Americans from eight different companies will stay in Bulgaria until Friday. Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi, Sandanski and the Rila Monastery are the places they want to visit.

Three new pistes with total length of 5 kilometers and two modern four-men lifts will be constructed in Pamporovo till the start of next winter season, announced the management body of SIBANK. As a major creditor and shareholder in “Pamporovo” Plc, the bank has developed an investment project for the sum of 10 million Euro.