Paddy well said mate, watch this space though folks, we have the winter skiing to come yet and I think the signs were there last season. When oh when are the people who run these resorts gonna realise that the gravy train will soon if not already have dried up and I also agree that the Bulgarian people must somehow be made more aware of why the EU funds have stopped and why. The funding was not sent here for a sellect few to enjoy, it was for the people of BG to try improve quality of life here.

Unfortunately, you are all right. I am a Bulgarian and I will never go either to Sunny Beach or Golden Sands. They picked up my car from Golden Sands because I did not park at (their) paid parking. The beaches are overfilled and overpriced. I go abroad, wishing to be patriotic.

Sunny beach will not recover for years. The Nordic tourists have abandoned Bulgaria after that they always need to feel blown over prices, poor service, and poor security. And the fact that no improvement from year to the next. No one traveling to Bulgaria for a few cents on a beer elller two.
I myself have been in 25 countries, and in no other country I feel the greed and cupidity as in Bulgaria. In the countries where the service has been poor in the desire to improve themselves been a compensating factor.

Paddy, you'r absolutely right, with they almost "criminal" growth of the building capacity the inve4stment in infrastructure is most important; like clean and safe water for the local population as wel as guests. Roads, airport, trained staff as police etc etc. But fundings from EG and EG countries is absolute another discussion as well the way Bulgaria but also the NGO partners abroad handle this fundings, would be a nice discussion.
Fact is that hotels are empty, Committee of tourism is sleeping, touristfairs bad organised, delegations dont do their work and foreign offices closed. Combine this with the insckilled hotelstaff and the economic crises, the unwillingness from Bulgaria Air to fly to the black see... e voila, the perfect way to learn some lessons or....

I appreciate that construction work on the coast provides a diminishing factor to the natural beauty of the land. However, it is away from the point being discussed. The E.U Grant scheme was implemented to support, most importantly, regional and infastructural development (quite possibly unseen by the general population). I belive the Bulgarian population deserves, and needs, to be made aware why the E.U thought it necessary to withold such allocated funding. Details of the investigation as to where the funds landed previous to the above mentioned witheld funds should and could be made public. Only then corrections can be made and people brought to account.

too many constructions are ruining the coast....
and , being part of the EU, you should try to follow EU rules...

Well you have said what i would say.( Bulgaria needs the youth and new ideas) you have in Bulgaria everything that holiday makers need but the people in charge do not have a clue how to treat paying customers Bulgaria can be up with the leading tourist board destinations the hotels have only themselves to blame. I overheard a manager in a hotel on sunny beach say (we are fed with British Guests they do nothing but complain). Its not just the recession that keeps guests away so well said Paddy.

As touroperator I work since 1978 with Bulgaria. Its not the money what the problem but this nashe chovec and vashe, we and the others.
Service and hospitality, Honesty and respect for the foreign guest who brings their money to Bulgaria and do not take anything home then memories, are only to find at the family runned places. If you cannot stop construction work, stop the corruption, drugs and robberies who make that GUESTS feel accepted and safe. (skip this nasty word :tourists"

Myself and Girlfriend lived and worked for 6 months in Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach). We witnessed first hand the dire conditions that hamper the tourist industry and make conducting business there impossible. The arrogance and corruption of the people who can change the situation have brought about this decline, not the recession. The youth need more control for the commencement of change which the so called business leaders will never grant. These state protected people need to be brought to book before they ruin a potentially beautiful and prosperous Country. This requires brave leadership not produced by succesive Governments. Over half a billion Euro of E.U Funds being witheld is completely unacceptable.

maybe now is the right time to start thinking, of what can be improved - e.g. customer service because this makes the difference !!!