site.btaNon-Residents' Arrivals in Bulgaria Up by 47.6% in February Y/Y

In February 2023, the number of Bulgarian residents' trips abroad was 450,600, 7.9% more than in February 2022. The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 604,700, 47.6% more in comparison with February 2022, the National Statistical Institute here said.

In February 2023, the most trips of Bulgarian residents were made to: Turkiye - 98,500, Greece - 87,100, Romania - 55,200, Serbia - 37,100, the Republic of North Macedonia - 29,900, Germany - 26,200, Austria - 19,700, Italy - 13,200, France - 13,000, and Spain - 12,800.

Trips for other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sporting events) in February 2023 accounted for the largest share of all  Bulgarian residents' trips abroad (44.5%), followed by those on holiday or for recreation (28.5%) and for a professional purpose (27.0%).

An increase in the trips of visitors from abroad was registered for all observed purposes. Transit through the country accounted for 34.6% (209,000) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

Visits of EU citizens accounted for 42.5% of all non-residents' visits to Bulgaria in February 2023 and totaled 256,800. Trips by citizens of Romania and Greece accounted for 37.6% and 30.0% of those visits respectively.

The visits of non-residents from non-EU European countries were 287,300, 47.5% of all visits to Bulgaria. The largest number of visits was registered from Turkiye 124,900 (43.5% in this group).

In February 2023, the most visits to Bulgaria were from: Turkiye - 124,900, Romania - 96,700, Greece - 77,000, Ukraine - 47,700, Serbia - 44,400, the UK - 35,800, the Republic of North Macedonia - 27,000, Israel - 16,400, Germany - 15,100, and Italy - 13,600.

In February 2023, the predominant share of visits was for other purposes (47.5%), followed by trips on holiday or for a recreation purpose (40.0%), and with a professional purpose (12.5%).