2.5 Million Euros Campaign Advertises Bulgaria on Paneuropean TV Channels

Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova on Thursday launched a Bulgaria advertising campaign on the Paneuropean TV channels Eurosport, Discovery Channel, Euronews and National Geographic Channel, Angelkova's Ministry reported. The advertisements are already being aired by the four channels.

The year-round campaign costs 2.5 million euro (exclusive of VAT) and is financed by Operational Programme Regional Development 2007-2013.

The push is part of an effort to offset the fall in Russian and Ukrainian tourists visiting Bulgaria. "We expect stronger interest from Germany, Austria and France," Angelkova said.

Tour operators expect that the flow of Polish tourists to Bulgaria this summer will increase by 6 to 7 per cent and Czech tourists will increase by 5 to 6 per cent. Increases are also expected for visitors from Bulgaria's neighbours Turkey (10 per cent), Greece (10 per cent), Macedonia (3 per cent) and Serbia (2 per cent). Tourists from Lithuania, Latvia and Moldova are expected to rise by more than 40 per cent. A 5 per cent rise is predicted for Belarusian travellers to Bulgaria. "Nevertheless, tourism professionals are very worried about the summer and we are trying to use all opportunities to attract more tourists," Angelkova said.