The Red Riviera: Gender, Tourism, and Postsocialism on the Black Sea

By NINA C. AYOUB

When Americans think of Bulgaria, if Americans think of Bulgaria, it is unlikely they think "resort destination." Yet, says Kristen Ghodsee, the country boasts seaside resorts with pale, fine-sanded beaches similar to those in Antigua or Thailand. Tourism, she notes, was a healthy part of the economy before the "changes," as Bulgarians understate the events of 1989. And the sector has grown in the post-Communist era, representing more than 12 percent of the GDP in 2004.

There is