site.btaTrips Abroad at 499,000 in February 2024, Up by 10.7% Y/Y

In February 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 499,000

or 10.7% more compared with February 2023, said the National Statistical Institute on Thursday. An increase was registered in the trips with other purpose - by 22.9%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - by 7.4%, while those with professional purpose decreased by 5.7%. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 49.4%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 27.6%, and with professional purpose - 23.0%.

In February 2024, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 698,900), or 15.6% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered - holiday and recreation, professional and others. Transit passes through the country were 31.5% (220,000) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

The NSI report shows that in February 2019 the number of foreigners visiting Bulgaria was 483,000 or 5.6% more compared with February 2018. Then, an increase was registered for all monitored purposes. Transits through the country accounted for 25.3% (122,300) of all visits by foreigners to Bulgaria.

Where did Bulgarians go

Most trips of Bulgarian residents were made to: Turkiye - 118,800, Greece - 93,200, Romania - 59,500, Serbia - 42,600, North Macedonia - 30,900, Germany

- 28,200, Austria - 22,400, Italy - 14,300, France - 13,600, Spain - 13,100.

Foreign arrivals by country

The share of visits of ЕU citizens was 46.2% of the total number of non-residents’ visits to Bulgaria and reached 322,700, the largest being by visitors from Romania - 43.3%, and Greece - 26%. Foreign arrivals from other European countries were 312,500, or 44.7% of all visits to Bulgaria. The highest number of visits from Turkiye - 145,000, or 46.4% in this group, was registered. Most visits to Bulgaria were from: Turkiye - 145,000, Romania - 139,7 00, Greece - 84,000, Serbia - 53,100, Ukraine - 45,200, the United Kingdom - 35,900, North Macedonia - 25,900, Germany - 18,400, Italy - 14,000, Poland - 12,100.