15% growth of the number of the tourists coming to Zlatograd [30 June 2011]
The tourists passing through Zlatograd increased by 15% compared with the previous summer season, said the local hotel association. Data from the beginning of the season showed an increase mainly of Bulgarian and Romanian tourists staying in the southern city, traveling to the Greek beaches. Travelers through border checkpoints "Zlatograd-Xanthi during the weekend has doubled and the weekend traffic during summer holidays is about four thousand a day, said the Commissioner Todor Georgiev - Director of the Regional Directorate" Border Police " in Smolyan.
Hotels in Zlatograd have already started working on joint packages together with their Greek colleagues. Bulgarian-Greek offers combine accommodation in the mountains and resorts by the Mediterranean Sea, or by the Aegean Sea as its popular name among the inhabitants of the Rhodopes. Tourists are transported only by mini-buses, as the road "Zlatograd-Xanthi" is not convenient for passing of larger vehicles. Greek protests in cities far not reflect negatively on the tourist groups wanting to visit northern parts of Greece. The representatives of Hotel Association in Zlatograd predict a successful summer season, having in mind the great interest in May and June. This summer, there was an increase of Romanian tourists passing through Border Checkpoint "Zlatograd" according to information given by "Border Police" in Smolyan.
