Bulgarian pensioners prefer Greece and Serbia for excursions

More and more Bulgarian pensioners are choosing to spend their summer days on Greek beaches, thanks to extremely affordable one-day excursions that tour operators offer at prices of around 70 leva.

This type of tourism is gaining serious popularity during the week, when buses are filled mainly with elderly people looking for cheap pleasure among the beautiful beaches of our southern neighbor. Most of them are well prepared – they bring cooler bags with everything they need for their lunch: watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese and drinks, writes the newspaper "Telegraph".

Tour operators say that interest is extremely high and places are filling up quickly. In addition to transport, packages usually include access to a beach with an umbrella and a sunbed, without the requirement to consume in restaurants. The most frequently visited destinations are Asprovalta and the area around Kavala.

While pensioners prefer to travel during the weekdays, younger Bulgarians head to Greece mainly on weekends by private car. There are also offers for them - for example, a two-day holiday in Thessaloniki with an overnight stay, a tavern with live music and shopping in a mall, for a price of 175 leva.

There is also great interest in festivals in Serbia. Excursions to the Banitsa Festival in Bela Palanka are extremely popular - places are filled a month in advance, with the price of a one-day trip being 45 leva. For those who want to stay for the evening program, an option with an overnight stay is also offered at a price of 239 leva.

The traditional fair in Gucha also remains among the favorites of Bulgarians. The bus ticket there costs 70 leva, and the interest is so great that the excursions are sold out as early as mid-July.

On home soil, the most preferred destination for a day trip remains Krastova Gora. Believers gather there on the night of September 13 to 14, and the price of the trip is 65 leva.

Despite the positive aspects for tourists, Greek locals are increasingly expressing dissatisfaction. The reason - Bulgarians rarely consume anything on the beach, which leads to losses for business. Private beaches are particularly affected, where owners are increasingly refusing access to visitors without an order, even for a coffee.

However, there are no such restrictions on municipal beaches. It is there that tourists with cooler bags and homemade food are most often seen. Therefore, some municipalities in Greece are proposing to introduce an entrance fee of 5 euros for access to these areas, especially on weekends when the influx is greatest.