BULGARIA HOPES TO SEE 30% INCREASE IN RUSSIAN TOURISTS 2012
Over 500 000 Russian tourists are expected to have visited Bulgaria by the end of 2012, according to the country's consul in Moscow, Angel Georgiev.
"So far, the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow has issued about 400 000 visas. We expect the number of visas issued by the end of the year to reach no less than 440 000," Georgiev has told ITAR-TASS, adding that the total number of Russian tourists who have visited the Balkan country in 2012 is expected to be over 500 000.
This would mean an increase by 30% year on year, he has noted.
Earlier in 2012, Bulgarian Deputy Economy Minister in charge of tourism Ivo Marinov predicted a 20% rise in the number of Russians visiting Bulgaria in 2012.
As of January 2012, Russian holders of Schengen visas have been able to visit and stay in Bulgaria without Bulgarian visas.
