A “vampire skeleton” with an iron bar in his chest discovered in Bulgaria may provide the country with an unexpected tourist boom as visitors flock to take in the macabre sight.

Travel agencies have reported a surge in interest in “vampire vacations” since news of the discovery of the remains in the Black Sea town of Sozopol broke in the international press earlier in the week…Agencies said interest from Britain and Germany was especially high, but they had also received enquiries from Russia and the United States.

The site of the dig has also been inundated with visitors curious to see the last resting place of the vampire.

Bozhidar Dimitrov, the archaeologist who discovered the skeleton, which dates back 700 years, said the victim had been stabbed a number of times in the chest and stomach with the metal stake to prevent him from rising from the dead and attacking the living.

The archaeologist explained that the “vampire” was a probably a legendary pirate called Krivich Crooked and speculated that his pirating skills may have led to rumours that he practised witchcraft, and that accounted for the stake.

To cope with an expected clamour to see the skeleton historians plan to put it on display in the national museum in Sophia. A glass case has been prepared and the remains will become part of a special display.

One of those LCD = lowest common denominator tourist attractions. It’s like traveling the world inside an American reality TV show.