Christmas this year saw a 20 per cent increase from 2009 in the number of people crossing the Bulgarian-Greek border, Commissioner Todor Georgiev, Chief of the Border Police Regional Directorate in Smolyan, said.

Compared with 2009, over 23,000 people more crossed the Bulgarian-Greek border in both directions over the Christmas holidays, the Border Police Service said.

The increase was mostly due to a rise in crossings at the new border checkpoints of Zlatograd and Ivailovgrad. The increase was smaller at Ilinden border checkpoint and almost negligible at Kulata.

Greeks arriving in Bulgaria for Christmas outnumbered Bulgarians travelling to Greece, Commissioner Georgiev also said. The explanation is that Bulgarians traditionally spend Christmas with family at home. More Bulgarians are expected to travel to Greece for New Year's.

The Pamporovo resort in the Rhodope Mountains has attracted more Greeks during the winter holidays. They are mostly individual tourists who go on a skiing holiday in the resort, hotel owners say.

Hotels in Pamporovo had a 75 to 80 per cent occupancy rate over Christmas, the Rodopi Regional Travel Association said. The occupancy rate for the New Year celebrations is nearly 100 per cent.

A growing number of Greek tourists have been crossing the border at Zlatograd checkpoint to go to Smolyan and Pamporovo for the holidays. Also, more Greeks have been going to Zlatograd to buy cheaper Christmas presents. It is mostly shops and eateries that benefit from these short stays. As to hotels, about 10 per cent of accommodation has been booked by Greeks for New Year's Eve, the local hotel association said.

Source: BTA