In December 2019, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 673.4 thousand or by 8.6% more in comparison with December 2018. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: ‘others’ (including as guest and passing transit) – by 9.9%, ‘professional’ – by 8.0% and ‘holiday and recreation’ – by 7.3%. Transit passes through the country were 28.8% (194.1 thousand) of all visits of foreigners to Bulgaria.
The share of visits of ЕU citizens was 55.4% of the total number of foreigners’ visits to Bulgaria in December 2019 or by 6.4% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase was registered in the visits of citizens from the United Kingdom – by 37.3%, Italy – by 13.9%, Austria – by 11.5%, Greece – by 5.7%, Romania – by 4.9%, and etc. At the same time decreased the visits from Czech Republic – by 14.4%, Slovakia – by 10.5%, Belgium – by 6.1%, Germany – by 2.1%, and etc. The visits of foreigners in the group ‘Other European countries’1 increased by 11.9%, as the highest increase was observed in the visits of citizens of Turkey – by 19.3%. In December 2019, the predominant share of the visits with other purposes was 46.9%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purpose – 34.9%, and with professional purpose – 18.2%.
In December 2019 the most visits to Bulgaria were from: Romania – 143.5 thousand, Turkey – 112.6 thousand, Greece – 111.0 thousand, Serbia – 48.4 thousand, Republic of North Macedonia – 47.4 thousand, Germany – 22.9 thousand, the United Kingdom – 20.9 thousand, Ukraine – 18.9 thousand, Italy – 13.0 thousand, Israel – 11.1 thousand.