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Bulgarias Albena Resort To Attract More Affluent Consumers
Bulgarian resorts ranked at the bottom of the price lists of British tour operators, Krassimir Stanev, executive director of Albena Jsc, said at a news conference, Dnevnik daily reported. That is not, however, where Albena wants to be.A large number of British tourists were put off by the higher prices at Albena seaside resort, and have opted for a holiday in Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach), Stanev said. Therefore, company executives expect that the number of UK visitors to Albena will drop by 10 to 15 per cent this summer, compared to the 2007 season. Belgian and Dutch tourists’ flow is likely to follow a similar trend.
Stanev expressed his hopes that German tourist, traditionally prevalent in Albena, will maintain their share. Germany has been suffering the effects of economic recession for several years now, which accounts for the withdrawal of German tourists from Bulgarian resorts. This, along with the systematic poor organisation, has turned Bulgaria into the destination-of-choice for low-income vacationers, Stanev commented. His ambition is to attract more affluent tourists, Dnevnik wrote.
Therefore, after the launch of the five-star Flamingo hotel in June this year, the Albena resort management plans to start work on another five-star project – Kaliakra 2 hotel and on the Black Sea coastline’s most modern centre for thalassotherapy (the medical use of seawater). As previously reported, estimated investment will reach 55 to 60 million leva. Both projects are scheduled for completion by 2010. However, construction will start this year.
Another five-star hotel complex will rise above the information centre, Stanev said. Managers have planned to relocate the administrative building and to erect a four-star hotel on its site.
Albena owns 300ha in the village of the nearby village of Rogachevo and plan to develop a 50ha golf course there. The first phase will be launched at the end of 2010, Stanev said. Investment will come to 7 million euro.
The company has projects for the development and expansion of its complex in Primorsko resort, as well. Four-star holiday villages will be erected in Ahtopol and Primorsko, Dnevnik reported.