Sunny Beach resort (on the Black Sea) welcomed the first group of 39 Israeli tourists with bread and salt Saturday, BTA reported. The arrivals were also decorated with ribbons inscribed with "You Are Not Alone", part of the campaign in support of the five Bulgarian nurses on death row in Libya.

Nearby Nessebur municipality expects a 10 per cent increase of tourists this season because of Bulgaria's accession to the EU, the municipal information service said.

Forecasts of the large tour operator companies indicate an exceptionally busy tourist season. To date bookings of foreign tourists from different countries for the resorts in the municipality register and 8 to 10 per cent increase year-on-year.

There is a prevalence of German and british tourists and there is increased interest on the part of the Scandinavian market. An increasing number of tourists from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania are also making bookings.

Tourists from Israel began visiting the resorts three years ago and this year Sunny Beach alone expects 15,000-20,000 guests.

The local authorities are trying their best to improve infrastructure and to create better conditions for the tourists, Dimiter Yankov of the municipality said. He added that a police station will also be opened at the beginning of the summer season in Nessebur, which will contribute to more effective control on public order in the town.