| Bulgaria is situated in the south eastern part of | | | | worked to develop an infrastructure and business |
| Europe and occupies the eastern part of the Balkan | | | | environment to facilitate tourism and external |
| Peninsula. To the north it borders with Romania, to | | | | investment. The budget airlines are expected to |
| the west with the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, | | | | begin flights within the next 2 to 3 years. |
| on the eastern side is the Black Sea, to the south | | | | The Bulgarian government has developed a program |
| borders with Greece and to the southeast with | | | | for increasing tourism, especially in skiing and beach |
| Turkeys European part. | | | | holiday resorts. The program includes support and |
| Bulgaria has a total area of 111 000 square kilometres. | | | | development of infrastructure, services, cultural |
| Extremely varied large plains and lowlands, low and | | | | offerings, historical sites, green areas, and tourist |
| high mountains, valleys and lovely gorges, numerous | | | | information centres. |
| lakes and rivers. | | | | The tourism industry in Bulgaria increased by 18 |
| Temperate continental climate with very distinctive | | | | percent in 2003, the highest figure in Europe. This |
| four seasons. | | | | trend is also the same for the winter period. In |
| A Mediterranean influence is felt in the countrys most | | | | December 2003 there were 28 percent more tourists |
| southern regions. | | | | in Bulgaria than in December 2002. This increasing |
| Bulgaria is located on the Back Sea coast in Eastern | | | | popularity is particularly noticeable in the UK, with |
| Europe and has been a traditional holiday destination | | | | 130,000 Britons of visiting during the summer of |
| for tourists throughout Europe for many years. The | | | | 2004. Tourism from the UK increased by 60 percent |
| mountainous towns in the West of the country are | | | | between 2003 and 2004, with Britons now the |
| endowed with substantial snowfall during the winter | | | | seventh largest group of visitors. |
| months affording a long ski season, while the Black | | | | Despite this, the price of property on the Bulgarian |
| Sea coast enjoys bright sunshine and high | | | | coast is around a third of that in Spain, while the cost |
| temperatures during the summer months. | | | | of living is also significantly lower. This represents a |
| There are three international airports in Bulgaria, one | | | | great investment opportunity for those interested in |
| in Sofia and two on the Black Sea coast in Varna and | | | | property. Prices in Bulgaria are already rising fast |
| Burgas. Clearly each country has an individual capacity | | | | driven by the following key factors. Stable economy |
| to prosper based on its raw materials and traditional | | | | with currency pegged to the Euro. Significantly |
| industries, and in Bulgarias case the driver is tourism. | | | | cheaper prices than Spain and other Western resort |
| Since 1991, working with the IMF, and more recently | | | | destinations the low cost of living. Joined the EU |
| in working towards 2007 entry to the European | | | | January 2007 The booming tourist trade. Impending |
| Union, Bulgaria has stabilised its macro economy and | | | | arrival of the UK/Irish budget airlines. |