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In summer 2016, Russian tourists unable to holiday in Egypt and Turkey will choose other destinations. Some tourist flows will shift to Crimea and Krasnodar Territory, where prices have already risen by 10–30% in anticipation of growing demand. However, Bulgaria stands to benefit most from suspended connections with Egypt, sanctions against Turkey and unjustified price increases at Crimean resorts. Experts forecast more Russian visits to Bulgarian resorts in 2016.
The 2015 seaside season was particularly unfavourable for Bulgaria’s tourism industry: tourist flows from Russia fell by 25%. Bulgarian hoteliers have more optimistic expectations for the coming 2016 season. Alongside the factors discussed above, the Bulgarian authorities’ measures to create attractive conditions for Russian tourists also provide grounds for optimism.
