Main types of tourism in Bulgaria:

When somebody says holiday, most people often think of the sea, some of the mountain and
forget all the other opportunities they have in front of them. Supporting this thesis is the data
showing that 52.4% of Bulgarian’s tourism is the summer one and 16.2% for the skiing season
(Stoilova, 2013). These two types of tourism may be most popular, but there are other
interesting main types that the country offers, for example cultural and historical tourism or spa
and healthcare tourism.
Data provided from the National Statistical Institute for 2017 presents that the most visited
period of the year is June to September, which obviously is the summer season. The Bulgarian
Black Sea coastline is one of the most attractive in Eastern Europe, after Greece and Turkey. The
greatest advantages that the country has is the low prices of accommodation, hot weather and
various kinds of entertainment for everyone’s preferences. There are numerous big cities and
little resorts for different tastes. For example, Sunny Beach is the place for wild parties, whereas
Albena or Kiten are more family oriented resorts. The Bulgarian seaside is a destination mainly
for foreign visitors from Romania, Greece, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia and others.
The second touristic season is the winter, because of the wide range of high and low mountains,
which represent 30% of Bulgaria’s territory (Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria, 2018). In fact,
the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula is in Bulgaria. The advantages of the mountain tourism
are almost the same as in the summer, with the only difference that in the winter the weather
in Bulgaria is freezing cold. The winter resorts are not so many, but offer an amazing experience
for its tourists on the ski slopes, as well as in the cosy hotels.
Really popular along with the skiing in the winter, as well as in the spring season, is the spa,
balneology and wellness tourism. This type is really well developed because of the many springs
with mineral waters, which are known since the Thracians, who were one of the best healers.
The spring with the hottest mineral waters is in Sapareva Banja with a temperature of 103ºС.
Furthermore there are many spa resorts in Bulgaria as Velingrad is known as “the spa capital of
the Balkan Peninsula” (Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria, 2018). Bulgaria also possesses places
with curative mud, for example Shabla, Varna Lake, Pomorie, etc. (Official Tourism Portal of
Bulgaria, 2018). Both mineral waters and the mud are used for medical issues, therefor visitors
come to Bulgaria not only on a holiday to relax, but also for health purposes.
The last but the one with great importance type of tourism is the cultural and historical one. It is
usually being combined with the other types. It does not hurt when you are around the sea in
Varna to go and visit the Historical Museum where one of the oldest Thracian Gold Treasury is
kept. It is a pleasure when you are skiing in Bansko to spend several hours in one of the oldest
monasteries in the region – The Rila Monastery. The cultural and historical tourism is
widespread in Bulgaria, because it is a country with thousands of years of history, many cultural
traditions and heritage in the form of 160 monasteries, around 40 000 monuments and 200
museums. One of the most intriguing museums are the Museum of Bulgarian Yogurt and the
Museum of Rose, situated in Kazanluk (Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria, 2018). Bulgaria also
has many folk traditions on days like St. George’s Day, Trifon Zarezan, St. Todor’s Day and many
others, which all are also name days. Lastly Bulgaria is really proud of its 3 natural and 7 cultural
sites, who are part of UNESCO, as they are places every tourist should visit.