Two young people from Burgas, a woman and a man who are both students, are building a free website, burgasinvision.com, for visitors coming to the city for Eurovision next year. The site is meant to help guests find their way around public transport, restaurants and cafes, and the main venues for events linked to the song contest.
Burgas has been chosen to host the contest next year, and visitors will arrive in May.
The idea came after the two were shocked by ads from some Burgas residents offering flats to rent at high prices. They decided to make something free and useful for all visitors to the city.
The woman is in her first year at the New Bulgarian University (NBU). She finished the Spanish-language class at the "G.S. Rakovski" foreign languages high school in Burgas. The man is in his third year at Burgas Free University (BFU) and is from the first graduating class of the Innovative High School. He already works as a programmer, which helps the project.
The site is at a very early stage and is not finished. So far, the home page, a map and a page on Bulgaria's Eurovision history are ready. The focus will next turn to the interactive map. "Maybe one of our main focuses will be this interactive map, to put more things into it," the man told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).
If visitors ask, the creators will answer questions, give information and film clips about sights, restaurants and cafes. They say that in most videos they will ask people what they want done for them and what should be added to the site. They are sharing the project on social media and waiting for feedback from people who want to come to Burgas. They are also open to offers from companies and sponsors.
The two hope the site will grow and that they will be able to get in touch with Eurovision officials.
The woman says she is happy that Bulgaria and Burgas will host such an event, and thinks it will be wonderful for tourists to see the beauty of the city. "Burgas needs a little revival, it needs people, it needs attention," she told BNR.