Interior Minister Brags about Top Security Measures at Bulgarian Resorts

Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov discussed Monday with foreign ambassadors measures to boost security at Bulgarian resorts in the summer season. Photo by BGNES

Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has boasted that the adequate measures taken by the Interior for ensuring the preservation of peace and public order in Bulgarian resorts has brought about a constantly increasing flow of tourists.

Tsvetanov's statement came after a Monday meeting with Ambassadors of EU member states and other countries sending a large number of visitors to Bulgaria.

He made clear that a total of 500 officers of the Interior would be dispatched from the inside of the country to boost security in Bulgarian resorts in 2012.

Tsvetanov told journalists that a total of 8.7 million foreigners had visited Bulgaria in 2011, 4.5 million of them tourists.

He noted that a total of 3.5 million foreign tourists were expected to spend the 2012 summer holidays in Bulgaria, up by 6-8% from 2011.

The Interior Minister stressed that the security measures adopted after meetings with foreign ambassadors had led to a decrease in armed robberies targeting foreign tourists.

He was optimistic that such discussions would reduce the number of unpleasant incidents in Bulgarian resorts even further.

Regarding the tourist season in Bulgarian winter resorts, which finished just recently, Tsvetanov informed that 162 police officers had been dispatched from the inside of the country to improve overall security.

He thanked the ambassadors for the advice and praised the excellent work of the "Public Order and Security" and "Criminal Police" Chief Directorates.

Monday's event was attended by representatives of 17 embassies of EU countries and other countries sending large numbers of tourists to Bulgaria, according to Norway's Ambassador to Bulgaria Tove Skarstein, who co-chaired the meeting.

She said that the last winter season had brought substantial progress in terms of security in Bulgarian resorts, which she attributed to the efforts of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry and the local authorities in Bansko and Borovets.

The next meeting devoted to the security of international tourists visiting Bulgaria will take place in September and will be co-chaired by the British Ambassador.

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