The Bulgarian Minister of Tourism, Zaritsa Dinkova, has announced that her country is committed to promoting greater interest from Chinese tourists by introducing new tourist routes.
Through a recent statement, she also revealed that in the first seven months of 2023, Bulgaria recorded an increase of 138 per cent in Chinese tourist visits, totalling 6,806, compared to the same period in 2022.
In addition, Minister Dinkova also highlighted Bulgaria’s appeal as a year-round destination, showcasing its popular winter and seaside resorts, pristine sandy beaches, rejuvenating mineral springs, luxurious spa facilities, and attractive golf courses.
According to research by the Ministry of Tourism, Chinese tourists visiting Bulgaria are increasingly attracted by cultural experiences, with the most famous Bulgarian cities including Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and Varna.
We are working on preparing tourist packages that are for combined visits to several Balkan countries. In this way, an opportunity is provided for Chinese tourists to get to know the culture and history of the region.
In this regard, Chinese Governor Ye Jiangchun acknowledged the growing fascination among Chinese travellers with Bulgaria, stressing the importance of cultural and historical interactions. He also welcomed developing specialised tourist routes, expressing confidence in their potential for success.
Furthermore, Ye Jiangchun extended a warm invitation to Minister Dinkova for a productive working visit to Jiangxi Province, which has a population of 45 million.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Tourism reported a significant increase in Chinese tourists visiting the country, with a total of 43 per cent increase in 2017. Data from January to August 2018 showed that income from international tourism in Bulgaria reached over €2.8 billion, reflecting a growth of 7.2 per cent compared to 2017.
Meanwhile, in July of this year, Bulgaria witnessed a 19.7 per cent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals, reaching 1.836 million visitors. This positive trend follows last month’s figure of 23 per cent year-on-year growth as the Bulgarian tourism sector continues its recovery from the sharp decline caused by the pandemic in 2020.
The flow of tourists in July included different types of trips, with leisure and recreational purposes at the top, accounting for 50.3 per cent of total visits. Trips with other motives accounted for 43.9 per cent, while visits for professional reasons accounted for 5.8 per cent.
Recently, Bulgaria launched an extensive campaign aimed at promoting its tourist destinations. This campaign involves the careful planning and execution of themed tours, focusing on inviting a diverse group of participants. These participants include journalists, film crews, bloggers, vloggers, celebrities, and experts from target markets.
