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RF tourist market in Bulgaria ranks first in 2012

Over 400,000 people travelled to Bulgaria, the press service said

MOSCOW, October 1 (Itar-Tass) — For the first time Russia’s tourist market ranked first in Bulgaria in the eight months of 2012 by exceeding the German, Greek and Romanian tourist market, the press service of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported on Monday.

Over 400,000 people travelled to Bulgaria, the press service said.

According to ATOR, “the share of Russian tourists in Bulgaria increased by two times in the past five years: in 2008 the share of Russian tourists accounted on 5.7 percent while in 2012 it amounted to 11.7 percent.” “For the first time in the eight months over 500 Russian citizens visited Bulgaria when 417,000 Russians travelled to Bulgaria as tourists,” ATOR said.

The press service stressed, “In the eight months Germany ranked second [11.3 percent]. Both Greece and Romania ranked third [11 percent of tourists]. Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Britain and Serbia follow them.”

ATOR added that the maximum of Russian tourists in Bulgaria was registered in July when about 136,500 people visited the country.

In addition, about 70 percent of direct flights to Bulgaria were made from Moscow while about 18 percent of lights were made from St Petersburg.

ATOR said the resorts Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Albena and Nesebar were most popular from March to August 2012.

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