Two more big Russian tour operator companies will bring tourists in Bulgaria

Two more big russian tour operator companies will bring tourists in Bulgaira.

Tour operators “ Coral Travel “ and “ Pegasus Touristik” start charters to Varna and Burgas
Another Russian summer, this time with even more hope for hoteliers - such seems to be the summer season on the Bulgarian black sea coast this year. The reason is the huge interest from Russian tour operators in Bulgaria. According to newspaper "Capital Daily" two of the biggest tour operators on the Russian market - "Coral Travel" and "Pegas Touristik", have decided to enter the Bulgarian market.

Companies themselves have confirmed their intentions to the newspaper, adding that the planned flights to Burgas and Varna, holidays in the larger resorts and additional trips on the spot. So the trend of the last three years increased interest of Russian travel agencies in our country is strengthened.

Last summer Russian tourists increased to 13.5% share in the total number of foreign holidaymakers  in Bulgaria, making this the number one market among all who rely on the tourism business here.

Concrete plans

According to the ranking of the association of tour operators in Russia (ATOP),  "Coral Travel" and "Pegas Touristik" fall in the top three of the largest companies in the sector .

"Coral Travel" for the first time this year has included in their catalogs ski resorts of Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo, the company announced at "Capital Daily". Now  as "a logical extension" the company will work with major resorts in the coming summer. "Coral Travel “ plans to launch charter programs to Burgas and Varna airports and offer holidays in hotels of all categories in resorts such as Sunny Beach, Golden Sands, Albena, in cities such as Sozopol and more. "Still the exact dates for the beginning of the programs are under discussion," was stated from the company.
"Pegas Touristik" had already been announced an early bookings for summer holiday in Bulgaria. Charter operator programs are from 16 Russian cities to the airports in Varna and Bourgas. The company plans first flight to the Black Sea coast on May 19 from the Russian city of Samara, and the proposals will be for holidays throughout the summer season. "The tour operator has assessed Bulgaria as a promising market," said Natalia Drevtsova from the marketing department of the company. In addition to standard holidays in seaside resorts  the travel agency will offer to its clients an extensive supporting program, including excursions to cultural and historical sites, churches, monasteries and even attractions in Romania and Turkey. Among the resorts offered by "Pegasus Touristik" are Golden Sands, Sunny Beach, St. Constantine and Helena Resort, hotels in Nessebar, Pomorie, Obzor and others.

"Coral Travel" is selected as a representative in Bulgaria "Astral Holidays" and "Pegas Touristik" - the company "Aqua Tour".

According to unofficial information another big tour in Russia - "Annex tour" is about to come soon to the Bulgarian market as well.

In anticipation of growth

Although at this stage "Pegas Touristik" and "Coral Travel" refuse to reveal more details from their plan to bring tourists in Bulgaria, their arrival to the country is a reason the local hoteliers to expect growth of this market segment.

In recent years, the share of Russian tourists increased rapidly, in the summer of 2013, they are already over 13% of foreigners who chose Bulgaria for their summer holiday. The statistics data shows that the total number exceeds 500 thousand tourists .

In fact, the growth of  number of Russian tourists began in 2008 and three years later they  become the largest group of foreign tourists who chose the Black Sea coast for their summer holiday . This was result from the  competitive prices on the market, and some governmental measures as simplifying the process for issuing visas, including the possibility that all holders of Schengen visas to enter the country directly.

Undoubtedly, that growth was achieved as well by  increasing supply of tour packages for Bulgaria. For example, in the past three years, the country was added into the catalogs of the two other major tour operators in Russia - "Tez Tour" and "Biblio Globus".

Who are "Coral Travel" and "Pegasus Touristik"

"Coral Travel" is the largest company in the group OTI Holding. According to information from the company in 2012 it has serviced 1.3 million of the 1.9 million tourists for the whole group. The company offers holidays in 26 countries. It has subsidiaries in Ukraine and Belarus. In 2012 the Bulgarian market was entered by the Polish tour operator from OTI Holding-Wezyr Holidays, which offers holidays mainly in the area of "Sunny Beach".

"Pegas Touristik" offers holidays in 22 countries, with packages offering starting from 50 Russian cities.

Both companies are leaders in number of the tourists in the latest official and unofficial rating of the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOP) reported "RIA Novosti".