From October 11, 2024, the Turkish shipping company IDO launches a ferry connection with modern catamarans between Istanbul and Burgas. It will mainly be for tourists who are in Turkey and want to come on a sea trip to Bulgaria for a day or two, TravelNews reported, citing Maria Belkoleva, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Port of Burgas EAD.
The first 200 guests will be mainly Americans, Canadians, British and Germans. They will go to Burgas, Nessebar and Sozopol.
“The idea is that starting next year, the big cruise companies that dock in Istanbul will include Burgas and the region in their one-day excursions. For this purpose, IDO’s catamarans will be used,” said Belkoleva, adding that the “Port of Burgas” is looking for all kinds of options to increase the number of ships and cargo from and to the country.
The big goal is the return of cruises to Bulgaria.
“For now, major international cruise lines include Bulgaria in their 2026 itineraries, hoping that the war in Ukraine will be over by then. Most of all, they intend to bring American tourists to our country, because for them our country is a new and unknown destination. They have already traveled most of the routes in the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean, and are now looking for new and interesting places for cruise trips,” explains Belkoleva, adding that there is also interest from Australian and European tourists.
A partner of the Turkish company IDO in our country is the Bulgarian Sea Link Shipping Ltd. By the end of the year, 6 trips will be made between Istanbul and Burgas, announced the manager of the company, Panayot Zolumov.
The hope is that if the ferry line is successful in 2025, there will be serious growth and increased passenger flow and the line will eventually become a regular service between the two cities. Zolumov also expects many Turkish tourists with Schengen visas to come along this route.
“I hope that the Bulgarians will also be interested in catamaran excursions to Istanbul, especially during the summer season,” he added.
The project is also being worked on by the regional structure of the BCCC in Burgas with chairman Georgi Dereliev, as well as Bulgarian tour operators.
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