The number of cruise tourists along the Bulgarian Black Sea coastline has more than doubled compared to 2013. These figures which made people from the tourist sector so happy proved to be the result of a fortunate combination of circumstance that could be harnessed to boost a lucrative industry.

Facts speak for themselves. By the end of October Port Varna will have welcomed 25,000 tourists traveling on board these fantastic “floating palaces”. Port Bourgas officials, on the other hand stated that their city had been visited by a record number of passengers – 18,000. Bulgaria’s third most visited cruise destination, Nessebar is also experiencing an unprecedented amount of interest – this summer 26 liners with almost 7,000 passengers on board berthed at its port. By and large, the stopover of cruise ships is one day, time enough for the passengers to see the sites and spend EUR 100 each, money that goes into the local economy.

This year’s “invasion” of cruise passengers along Bulgaria’s Black sea coastline has a logical explanation. Even though the Black Sea has not been the most popular of destinations among marine travelers, interest has been growing. Suffice it to mention that the unrest in Northern Africa restricted maritime routes in the Mediterranean dramatically, re-directing ships northwards, far from the volatile regions. Small wonder then that two years ago leading companies from this sector declared the Black Sea the fastest developing cruise destination. This on its part gave a major boost to bookings for this kind of tourism in the area, says Vladimir Karadjov, whose firm represents several world cruise companies. By a tradition, the ships take one-week cruises around the Black Sea, calling at a number of big ports, usually 4-5. The problem is that as of this spring, the conflict in Ukraine has meant a hasty alteration of itineraries and re-directing passenger ships from Yalta and Odessa to ports on the other side of the Black Sea, among them the Bulgarian Varna, Bourgas and Nessebar…

“By the end of October, more than 120 ships will have called at Bulgarian ports; in other years their numbers have reached 50-60,” said for Radio Bulgaria Vladimir Karadjov:

“The truth is there was absolutely no way that cruise companies could alter their itineraries, as the bookings had already been made, the tourists had already purchased their airline tickets and logistically, canceling their Black Sea cruises would have cost them a packet. But as of next year there is no such risk and if the problem in Ukraine continues, these companies may well restrict their routes in the region, and dock at no more than 1-2 ports instead of 4-5 as previously. If this happens it is by far more likely that they will choose ports in Romania rather than in Bulgaria.”

The reason, Vladimir Karadjov says, are the high charges at Bulgarian ports, the highest across the entire Black Sea region. This means the country risks diverting cruise ships from our shores, handing this lucrative tourist segment to neighbouring Romania on a platter. By the way, this summer as many cruise ships called at the Romanian port of Constanța as was the aggregate number of ships at all of Bulgaria’s three ports. If passenger liners were to start avoiding Bulgaria’s coast, the country stands to lose USD 3 million a year which is tantamount to the country’s annual cruise tourism revenues, according to data of the Varna Chamber of Tourism:

“Prices were high even before that,” comments Vladimir Karadjov. “We from the sector made an attempt to reduce them but to no avail. The problem is we are very expensive. One ship will leave tens of thousands of euro a day, paying the Bulgarian port in question charges that are 30-40 percent higher than the charges at any other port in the region. In this case this is a lump sum that includes other costs as well, such as pilot charges, tugs, eco-fees, passenger fees etc. As an aggregate sum it is by far not competitive compared to other Black Sea countries. This is the reason why cruise companies are inclined to opt for the Romanian port rather than for any port in Bulgaria.”

Be as it may, the port town administrations are already drawing up ambitious programmes that would make them more alluring cruise ship ports of call. New seaside promenades, more diverse cultural events, more parking space for the buses that will cater for cruise liner passengers and other measures aimed at bringing the big ships into Bulgarian ports. But whether the upward trend in cruise tourism will continue in Bulgaria in the face of the steep charges, only time will tell.

English version: Milena Daynova