The tourist industry should show its capacity to deal with a relatively large gray sector, which is breeding ground for unfair competition, corruption and crime, President Georgi Purvanov said at the opening of the Second Congress of Investors in Tourism on Friday.

This is the only way to make it possible to increase tourism revenues to the state and municipal budgets, the resource for national advertising and marketing, and the possibilities to absorb the funds earmarked for the sector from European programmes, Purvanov said.

The President expressed support for the efforts to improve the regulatory environment towards self-regulation of activities in tourism. He noted that the impediments to starting a new business in the field of tourism should be removed, and way should be given to young people, new ideas, new attractions and products.

According to Purvanov, the expected 20 per cent growth of tourists this year is a remarkable achievement, but it is not enough for the effective occupancy rates at newly built hotels. Tourism revenues increase more slowly than the number of tourists, the President said. He noted that a new approach is necessary, a breakthrough in the efforts to attract tourists.

It is necessary to improve the strategy for sustainable development of tourism in Bulgaria, so that it is integrated in the overall strategy for social and economic development of the country and commits all factors to the interest of Bulgarian tourism, Purvanov said in conclusion.

Source: BTA