Bulgarian Tour Operators See 40% Drop in New Year Bookings

Bansko ski resort in Bulgaria

Reservations made for the upcoming New Year's Eve have dropped by 40% from last year, said Lidia Racheva, a member of the managing board of the Bulgarian Association of Travel Agencies (BATA) in an interview with Darik Radio on Monday.

She emphasised that the figures were not final because the season has only recently begun and that the findings did not include the bookings of all companies in the sector.

However, Racheva explained that there was a pronounced downward trend.

She suggested that January and February’s reservations would help to partially offset the substantial drop seen at the end of 2011, as many tourists would wait for the higher "festive" prices to drop to their normal rates before going on a ski holiday.

Racheva said that winter resorts like Pamporovo, Borovets and Bansko still had unbooked hotel rooms despite the increased demand caused by the snowfall.

She added that package holidays organised by tour operators should be cheaper than individual travel, but that individual travel allows the option of last minute discounts at hotel reception during the peak winter season.