Last year about 20,000 Chinese tourists visited Bulgaria. This was announced by Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria H.E. Zhang Haizhou. Bulgaria has tremendous potential for attracting Chinese tourists, but concrete steps have to be taken, both from the Bulgarian and the Chinese side in order to increase their number, the ambassador said.

He pointed out that China's embassy will help promote Bulgarian tourist products. He said bilateral talks are being held on easing the visa regime and on opening direct flights.

Economic and cultural contacts between Bulgaria and China will surely intensify as 2018 is declared a EU-China Tourism Year, the ambassador added.