UTRECHT, The Netherlands, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Eurail will become more attractive to overseas travelers when Bulgaria opens its rails to Eurail Global Pass holders in 2011. This means that the Global Pass, hailed as the 'European Golden Ticket' for five decades, will offer pass holders unlimited access to the national railways of 22 European countries.
The Eurail Group G.I.E. is dedicated to the marketing and management of the Eurail Pass product range and the Group strives toward making the various Eurail Pass offers excellent value for money while working on behalf of the participating railways. "We are delighted that BDZ, the Bulgarian State Railways has decided to join the Eurail Global Pass offer" comments Ana Dias e Seixas, Marketing Director of the Eurail Group G.I.E. "We are confident that this additional country will greatly benefit our Global Pass holders who wish to explore the European continent by train."
Based on the predictions published in the Bulgaria Tourism Report for 2010, the renowned 'Country of Roses' attracts millions of overseas travelers each year. In April, 2009, the Bulgarian government approved the National
Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism from 2009-2013. This initiative aims to 'enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector through effective use of natural and anthropogenic resources'. The popularity of Bulgaria and its stunning coastline has seen a steady increase following the opening of borders between neighboring countries. Eurail Group G.I.E. wishes to respond to the allure of Eastern Europe by expanding its Global Pass range in an attempt to encourage environmentally responsible and affordable tourism.
Eurail Global and Eurail Select Passes remain the core products for the Eurail Group and the sales of the Eurail Select Pass have risen compared to the same period last year. Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & Switzerland remain in the 'Top 5' of the most popular Select Pass combinations:
| Jan to Sep, | Jan to Sep, | |
| 2009 | 2010 | |
| France, Italy, Switzerland | 14,856 | 18,875 |
| France, Italy, Spain | 7493 | 8124 |
| Benelux, France, Germany | 7023 | 7751 |
| France, Germany, Switzerland | 4347 | 5002 |
| Germany, Italy, Switzerland | 3493 | 3809 |
"Europe is home to many of the longest and most sophisticated High Speed Lines across the globe. "France, Spain and Germany feature in the 'Top 5' global ranking (with Japan offering the largest network)," explains Dias e Seixas. "We predict that these trends will continue with the introduction of several new High Speed developments in Italy, Spain and Finland, making travelling through Europe by train easier than ever."
For more information: http://www.eurailgroup.com
