Veliko Tarnovo is announced for the capital of the cultural tourism

The Bulgarian hotelier and restaurateur association offered Veliko Tarnovo to become the capital of the cultural tourism on the Balkans. This was announced by the chairman of the association of the organization - Blagoi Ragin.

The nomination was discussed with the mayor dr. Rumen Rashev and the multi billioner Gasan Aidi - president of the international hotelier and restaurateur association.

The tourists who visited the old historical town of Veliko Tarnovo indicate serious interest during the first half of 2009. With 60% more were the guests of the old town compared with the same period last year - announced Daniel Panov, manager of the municipal tourist agency "Tsarevgrad Tarnov". This is quite optimistic on the background of the heavy stagnation in the tourist branch.

The increase in the tourist flow is an indicator that the Bulgarian is trying to overcome the crisis. Only for the Tsarevets fortress the tourists increased will 20 000 people which is with 16% more for this half of the year. Despite this in Arbanasi there is decrease in the tourist flow because of the higher prices of the museums.

The picture does not look that optimistic in the rest of the country. Nationwide for the first five months of the year the incomes from tourism decreased with 8.2% and the tourists decreased with 7.6%, said Anelia Krushkova - chairman of the government agency for Tourism. According to her utopia to believe that this season will be the same as the one from the last year.

The opinion of Gasan Aidi is that the industry of hospitality seriously suffer from the crisis as well as all other branches. This should not be a reason for panic, there is hope that the crisis will end during 2010 - 2011.