Recent festivals (the open-air jazz festival, the international folklore and the opera festival in the Tsarevets Castle) have attracted a significant number of tourists to the Veliko Tarnovo and the area. According to statistics of the local tourist information centre, some 60 thousand tourists have visited the Old Bulgarian Capital. The peak of the visits is expected in August, predicts the head of the tourist agency.
The number of tourist has increased compared to last year, due to the variety of cultural and historical events Veliko Turnovo is organising, as the town prepares its candidacy for the cultural centre of Europe for 2019.
The new inflow of tourists have also been beneficial to the revival of the ols spa town of Voneshta Voda, which now has several hotels, guests houses and spa centres open and offering wonderful spa treatments.
Over the past six years, the bed capacity have been consistently increasing and is currently about 5000. Recent events in Bourgas have not affected the Israeli visits to the old capital and all planned visits are running smoothly.
There is a notable continuous growth of 7 – 10 percent of pilgrimage tourism, which is becoming popular due to the number or ancient and Orthodox churches of cultural and historical significance in the area. Some of the most famous are the “40 Martyrs” Church in Veliko Tarnovo and the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary in Arbanassi.
These have definitely had positive effects on the local property business as well. There is a notable surge in Bulgaria real estate sellers and buyers and we expect the number to peak in the month of August.
