Bulgaria’s National Statistics Institute registered a sharp increase in the construction of new hotels in Sofia. The number of new accommodation facilities in the first half of 2006 is equal to the openings recorded for the entire 2005. Sofia currently offers 130 accommodation facilities versus just under 90 at end-2005. Most of the hotels under construction are rated 3 and 4 stars as developers focus on this previously underdeveloped niche catering mainly to business travellers. The boom aims to increase the city's capacity to host conference tourism events which are expected to increase after the EU entry. According to the Sofia Tourism Board, Bulgaria’s capital city welcomes 5.6 mln tourists annually, including 1.5 mln foreigners.