2008 Announced For Year Of Indonesia In Bulgaria 23/03/2008
By the time of the visit of the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik to Bulgaria, Anelia Krushkova, chief of State Agency of Tourism (SAT) stated that she was surprised by the number of Indonesian citizens, who visited Bulgaria in the passed 2007. Tourists in the Asian country are 5 million people, as many as in Bulgaria, but the incomes are much bigger than in Bulgaria - round $5 billion. Tourism sector on Indonesia takes 9% of GDP and aims to recover big part of its potential, Money.bg told. Jero Wacik stated he will do his best to develop all relations in the tourism sphere between Bulgaria and Indonesia. He also said that every year 220 million Indonesian citizens are traveling worldwide and that's why will be huge success if Bulgaria succeeds to attract at... more

Rental Prices Up 46 In Q1 2008 Industry Watch 21/03/2008
The rental prices of a regular two-room apartment in Sofia rose by an average of four per cent in the first quarter of 2008, while three-room flats in prime locations posted a 6.7 per cent mark-up in the same period, according to a recent report of the local think-tank Industry Watch. Despite the recorded growth in residential rents, their rise still lags behind the growth in sale prices and the flat’s repayment period (sale price/rent price ratio) has been extended from 188 to 234 months on average, according to the survey. Industry Watch analysts have observed a certain decline in the interest in residential and holiday real estate. Business space – offices and warehouses, on the other hand, are gaining ground. more

Dreaming Snowbirds Warned To Make A Reality Check 20/03/2008
Growing numbers of Britons are retiring abroad, swapping the cold and rain for mostly warmer climes. No wonder that they are now known as “snowbirds”. About 1m British pensioners are drawing their state pension abroad, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. This is up from 770,000 in 1997. Britain’s former imperial reach explains part of the pattern with Australia accounting for 241,000 and Canada for 151,000. But sunnier European destinations have a strong appeal with Spain accounting for 71,000, Italy for 32,000 and France for 31,000. “There has been a shift from a second home for retirement being regarded as a luxury to it being something attainable by most people with the drive to achieve it,” says Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, the estate... more