Travel & Tourism News and Articles related to Region North-Eastern Bulgaria
Current date: 2013-05-23 05:52

Albena will not feature in next year`s Neckermann holidays catalogue after the German tour operator, part of the Thomas Cook group, decided not to renew its business relations with the Bulgarian Black Sea resort. The pullout was confirmed by both the local Thomas Cook rep, Hristo Kolev, and Albena executive director Krasimir Stanev. Neckermann is the third major tour operator to drop from its catalogue a holiday destination in the Varna area.

Industry insiders said the tour operators are dumping the Northern Black Sea destinations from their portfolios in response to flagging interest on the part of holiday-makers and to the pricing of vacation packages in the area which are more expensive than accommodation options available further south. There are several reasons for the decision to stop doing business with Albena but the pricing issue was top-most, said Kolev. Neckermann made bookings in Albena for 3,000-4,000 clients in 2007. The vacated bed capacity will likely be marketed in Romania, France and Scandinavia.

About a month ago, Thomson, a unit of Germany`s TUI, and First Choice said this will be the last summer they are selling holiday packages for the Bulgarian Black Sea resorts accessible through the Varna airport. The move is expected to halve the number of British tourist visits to Bulgaria`s Northern Black Sea coastline.

The two companies generated 20,000 bookings for the local hospitality industry in 2007. Thomson and First Choice also cancelled their charter routes to and from Varna.