Each Accident Tarnishes Bulgarian Tourism's Image - Minister

Traicho Traikov, Bulgaria's Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, has vowed a 10% growth in tourist arrivals for 2011. Photo by BGNES

Media coverage of tourism can significantly affect public attitudes towards a destination, according to Traicho Traikov, Bulgaria's Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

"It is easy for me to say that there are institutional responsibilities but every separate incident tarnishes the image of Bulgarian tourism as a whole, which is why we all share the responsibility", Traikov said in a Saturday  interview for Darik radio.

Commenting on the accident with the 13-year-old German girl who died in Bulgaria's Black Sea resort Golden Sands after she was sucked in by the pump of a hotel swimming pool, he said that the control institutions and bodies were the ones in charge of imposing  and ensuring the implementation of rules.

 Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism also expressed confidence that owners of such pools would never again agree to such tricks in a bid to sidestep sanctions and legalization procedures.

Pointing out that accidents happen everywhere, Traikov specified that 2011 was witnessing an increase of over 9% in holiday visits.

2011 was expected to bring a 10% growth in tourist arrivals, the minister said, remarking that over 9% of the target had already been met.

On the topic of tourism investment, Traikov said that that there was an almost universal years-long trend of tourists spending less, which was years due to the price reductions.

"It is common knowledge that tourists with broader interests than beach sunbathing spend the most in Bulgaria. Companies dealing in historical and cultural tourism have registered an increase in such tourists, but they are not so many yet, unfortunately", Bulgaria's Minister of Tourism concluded

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