Bulgaria is the best destination for cheap holiday

Bulgaria is the cheapest European holiday destination for British travellers, according to a survey.

Ten typical holiday items and costs, including a meal out, will cost tourists just £42.23 in Bulgaria, the survey by Post Office travel services found.

This is two-and-half times cheaper than in Antigua, where the items cost £108.70 , making the Caribbean island the most expensive of the 18 destinations surveyed.

Thailand, at £43.92 for the 10 items, is the next best bargain destination despite a recent rise in prices, while South Africa (£46.13) is in third place.

Turkey and Croatia joined Bulgaria as the best places in Europe for a bargain break, while France (£78.30) was the most expensive eurozone country.

Spain, at £67.08, was the best-bargain eurozone country, closely followed by Portugal (£67.47)

The survey showed that prices have dropped in Portugal as well as in Greece and Italy, but have risen in long-haul destinations, with Thailand costs going up 53.7 per cent and Egypt rising nearly 47 per cent.

Post Office head of travel services Sarah Munro said: "The eurozone has taken a bashing this year, but our survey suggests that tourist outlets in many resorts are taking dramatic steps to encourage tourists.

"Despite the weak pound, this means that UK tourists who shop carefully could find that they get more than expected for their money."

She went on: "Prices for eating out have shown some of the biggest rises in this year's survey. In Thailand we have tracked a 68.5 per cent jump. In the US meals increased by almost 49 per cent and even in Turkey, one of our best buys, they have gone up by over one third.

"By contrast the increase in Greece was just above 1 per cent. However, many of the same destinations where prices have gone up, notably Thailand and Turkey, remain great value for money." according telegraph.co.uk

Tourism opportunities in Bulgaria: Russian roulette

Quoting unnamed officials at the Bulgarian-Russian Investment Forum as saying that Russian investors were "opting for partnerships with Bulgarian companies in order to start new casinos in Bulgaria", Bulgarian daily Standart said the country had a "golden opportunity to become the Las Vegas for Russian gamblers."

As reason for the Russian interest, Standart referred to a Russian decision to restrict casinos in four regions on July 1 2009.

Luring rich Russian gamblers, however, was not going to be easy, as the country would have to compete with the likes of Monte Carlo and London.

Blagoy Ragin, chair of the Bulgarian Hotel- and Restaurant-Keepers Association, was quoted as saying that "rich Russians would come only if there was a megacasino – giant, luxurious, and with a lot of extras."

Ragin said that such a megacasino would be "most becoming in the western part of the Sunny Beach resort," Standart said.

According to an unnamed source in the tourism sector quoted by Standart, businessmen were already hoping that gambling-loving Russian tourists would "be the prime saviours of this summer's holiday season at the Bulgarian seaside."

In Strasbourg was opened a photo exhibition of Belogradchik rocks

In Strasbourg photo exhibition was opened today Bulgarian nature phenomenon Belogradchik rocks, inform BTA, according to the release of the organizers.

The exhibition includes more than 40 panoramic photographs, expression of the authors' vision Irena Danailova and Robert Nikolaev

After the announcement of the "new seven natural wonders of the world were nominated for participation four landmarks in the country - Belogradchik rocks Wonderful bridges in the Rhodopes, fossil forest near Varna and Seven Lakes.

Sunny Beach in the top 20 most preferred destinations

Sunny Beach came in the top 20 most desired by Scandinavian tourists resorts, suggest results of a study of agency Scandiandess

Scandinavian and Germans prefer expensive hotels. Currently there package prices are competitive to those of Turkey and Greece. Tourists from the northern were most enjoy music clubs and discos.

More than 18 000 foreign tourists arrived in the resort during the first days of May.

Irakli opened the season on June 13

The official opening of the tourist season in Irakli Protected Area will be held on June 13 (Saturday), reported from the resort.

This year, the resort participates in the contest EDEN 2009, organized by the European Commission for the selection of excellent tourist destination associated with protected areas. The main objective of the owners is to turn Irakli in a high quality eco-resort, undertaken mainly in the tourism map of Bulgaria.

Tourists visiting Irakli are mostly families with children who have higher criteria for the environment, peace and quiet.

At present the resort has a full base equipment villas and bungalows with a total bed base of 125 persons, 2 restaurants, shops and cafes. The beach offers all the entertainment for a nice holiday umbrellas, lounges, boats, water wheel, kite, surfing and the like.

Bansko will attract tourists in the summer with cultural events

Bansko is the map of modern European winter resorts, but the ambition is to establish, together with Dobrinishte and other villages in the municipality located in the Pirin and the Rhodope Mountains, as year-round resort.

It said at a press conference as the official opening of the new summer tourist season, Mayor of Bansko Alexander Kravarov.

Bansko will rely on various cultural events to attract the attention of tourists in summer.

On May 23 launched a two-day sixth edition of the International Folklore Festival "Between three mountains", organized jointly by the municipality and Production Company "Edith". This year it attracted a record number of participants - over 1300.

After elections in July will begin more traditional theater festival