More British Tourists Visit Bulgaria's Ski Resorts.

Balkan Holidays tourism agency registered a 35 per cent increase in the number of British tourists who visited Bulgarian ski resorts.

More than 25,000 people arrived in Bulgaria, using the services of the company, Dnevnik newspaper reported. For the 2004-2005 season Balkan Holidays registered a 70 per cent increase in tourist figures, compared to the numbers for the previous season.

Company representatives said the new infrastructure and hotels in leading ski resorts like Bansko, Borovetz and Pamporovo naturally increased the interest of foreign tourists.

Dnevnik reports Balkan Holidays is one of the leading companies on the British market, managing to bring high number of foreign tourists to Bulgaria. In 2005, the company attracted more than 165 000 British tourists, interested in both summer and winter tourism opportunities.

In the beginning of this year the company registered a slight decrease varying of three to four per cent. Other companies also complained from the lower interest toward summer vacation opportunities in Bulgaria.

Balkan Holidays managing director Radka Mineva said many British tourists wait for last-minute offers. These become available in July and August. The British market is well-known for early reservations and the development is unusual, Mineva said.

During the November WTM tourism fair in London Balkan Holidays received an award in the category tourism agency to European destinations. It also received a BMI Travel Award 2005 for best agency from Central and Eastern Europe. bestbgproperties.com