GREECE PROVES BULGARIANS' 2012 TOP SHORT BREAK DESTINATION

More than 85 000 Bulgarians visited Greece in search of more exciting holidays during the latest batch of off days preceding May 1, celebrated as international labor day.

Bulgarians are apparently undisturbed by the economic turmoil in the neighboring country - traffic through Bulgaria-Greece border checkpoints was just a notch below the record highs seen during the Easter holidays, the most intensive being at the Kulata and Kapitan Petko Voyvoda.

More than 25 000 vehicles and 87 000 people entered Greece through Bulgaria's border during the off days, against 18 000 vehicles and 58 000 people in the opposite direction, according to data of border police.

A huge part of the active and working people in the Bulgarian capital have been spending over the last three years their summer, Easter and New Year holidays south of Sofia, in Greece and Halkidiki in particular.

And despite gloomy forecasts Greece has not suffered a decrease in Bulgarian tourists' bookings in the first four months of this year even though the country has been dealt a heavy blow by the global economic crisis and domestic turbulence.

Over the last few years Greece has been the greatest destination for Bulgaria's short break fans, who would rather find their pleasures closer to home and whose batteries take longer to recharge.

Culturally Bulgarians are not very willing to go to far away destinations and in comparison with the decrease in the number of Bulgarians going abroad, all signs show that the figures for Greece will be good in summer 2012 too, people from the tourist business say.