Yacht sales in Bulgaria would increase by 30 per cent in 2008 on an annual basis, Miroslav Ivanov, one of the organisers of the Bulgaria Boat Show, said. Revenues from yacht sales in the country in 2007 alone exceeded 30 million euro, Ivanov said, as quoted by investor.bg.

More than 50 new yacht models would be presented at the Bulgaria Boat Show on an area of 2000 sq m at the Varna Seaport. Elite vehicles, watches and properties would also be shown.

According to Ivanov, at least two more border checkpoints were needed at Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast because of the increasing number of tourist coming to Bulgaria by sea. The investments, allocated for the construction of 10 mixed ports along the Black Sea coast would bring an instant return and would create new jobs in the small coastal towns, Ivanov said.

Global statistics showed that a tourist with a yacht paid 30 times more money during their vacations, compared to all other types of tourists, he said.

At the end of May 2008, Varna municipal council chairperson Borislav Goutsanov said that the modernisation of Varna Seaport yacht club would cost more than one million leva. Some 200 000 leva were allocated for the reconstruction of the jetty, he said.

Varna port director Danail Papazov said that the new port would have a modern facility, providing electricity supply, water and internet to the yachts berthed at the port. A new restaurant, café and piano bar would also be built.

The Varna port had already been enlarged and could already host 120 yachts, investor.bg said. In 2009, the port would host the European yacht championship and in 2010, Tall Ships Race 2010.