EUR 2.7 billion are revenues from foreign tourists and BGN 1 billion from Bulgarian tourists, announced the Chairman of the Bulgarian Tourist Chamber, Tsvetan Tonchev. He added that there was a very good outlook for the winter season as well. "Bulgaria deserves at least EUR 5 B in revenues from international tourism. This has already happened in other countries, for instance Croatia has already attracted EUR 8-9 B, Montenegro over EUR 3 B and Finland over EUR 5 B. Not to mention Greece and Turkey," he explained. Tonchev suggested that Bulgaria should develop rehabilitation- and sports-related tourism. He concluded by saying that he expected hotel construction to continue into 2012.
Source: Monitor (06.01.2012)

No new licenses on beach concession granted. Solely lease contracts signed. Over recent years, no new beach concessions have been granted, except for those concerning the resort complexes Golden Sands, Albena, and St. Konstantin and Elena. Mainly lease contracts have been signed, indicating more ostensibly the concessionaires' outflow, which is mostly due to the high economic requirements and the few opportunities for realisation, stated in an interview for the TV Bulgaria on Air, Ivo Stefanov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Association of Beach Concessionaires (BABC). The organisation opposed the amendments adopted to the Black Seaside Act, proposed by the GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) government, which prompted sharp objections from the mayor, hoteliers and other representatives of the tourism business sector. One of the most serious prohibitions concerns the construction in the 100-m zone from the coastline, which is the so-called first line. According to Stefanov, the mayors' protest against a similar decision is justified because, if adopted, these amendments will not allow the construction of parking lots, which means that tourists will seek a place to park their vehicles far away and will need to carry their entire luggage all the way to the beach. Besides, construction works cannot be implemented on the beach itself, not only because of the imposed bans, but due to purely practical reasons. At about 1 m depth in the sand, water comes out, which impedes the construction of stable and permanent structures. The construction prohibitions will apply only to new construction projects, while those under implementation will not be subject to restriction since the law has no retroactive effect. The envisaged law amendments state that the concessionaires will be obliged to take care of the whole territory of beaches, including grassland, rocky areas and dunes. The dunes are forbidden territory for any construction works, while, according to the amendments, the concessionaires will be obliged to put fences around them and place prohibitive signs, thereby precluding violations of their status. The latter, in turn, will cause an outflow of interest on the part of the current concessionaires and a decline in the interest expressed by the potential leasers of our beaches along the Black Sea coast. According to the Bulgarian state, catering establishments will no longer constitute a percentage of the total area of the ??beach. In practice, however, the option for placing commercial outlets will be reduced by 70%. For the concessionaires, the only secure source of income not dependent on natural conditions are catering establishments. As a result of the applied amendments, the number of these establishments will decrease on average by 30%, which may prove detrimental, stated the Chairman of the BABC Board.
Source: Class (07.05.2012)

Two super hotels are being built in Golden sands In November last year an expansion and reconstruction of hotel International-Golden sand’s former emblem started. Planex holding is the project’s executor, while joint-stock company "Hotel International" is an investor. Work will be completed on two stages. The first should finish on May 15 th this year, while the second one-till the beginning of the 2013 holiday season. The whole project includes construction of a second body of the hotel with a height of nearly 60 meters, indoors and outdoors pool, new section of the casino and a spa center. The second impressive project, which completion is in progress now is Quality development group’s investment. The aparthotel will be called Omega Spa. It will have a floor area of 30 acres. The complex will consist of eight buildings, where 201 apartments with dimension between 100 and 120 square meters will be located. In line with the project the new hotel is to offer all opportunities for business tourism and entertainment. It will have several multifunctional halls, more than ten pubs and restaurants, as well as an ice rink. The other section of the hotel will dispose with a large fitness center, bowling hall and a mall.
Source: Dnevnik (10.05.2012)