In November 2019, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 438.3 thousand or by 2.8% above the registered in November 2018, the National Statistical Institute said in a press release. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, an increase was observed in the total number of the trips of Bulgarians to: Austria – by 12.6%, Germany – by 11.0%, Turkey – by 4.5%, Republic of North Macedonia – by 3.8%, Serbia – by 2.4%, Italy – by 1.1%. At the same time, there was a decrease of the trips to: Russian Federation – by 10.2%, Romania – by 2.5%, Greece – by 2.2%, and etc.
In comparison with November 2018, an increase in trips with all purposes was registered: ‘holiday and recreation’ – by 7.5%, ‘professional’ – by 2.4%, and ‘others’ – by 0.5%. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education, visiting cultural and sport events) in November 2019 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad – 45.0%, followed by those with professional purpose – 28.2%, and with holiday and recreation purposes – 26.8%.
In November 2019 most trips of Bulgarian citizens were made to: Turkey – 127.4 thousand, Greece – 72.2 thousand, Romania – 39.7 thousand, Serbia – 33.9 thousand, Germany – 24.3 thousand, Republic of North Macedonia – 21.7 thousand, Austria – 17.2 thousand, Italy – 16.0 thousand, the United Kingdom – 13.8thousand, Spain – 10.3 thousand.
In November 2019 most trips of Bulgarian citizens were made to: Turkey – 127.4 thousand, Greece – 72.2 thousand, Romania – 39.7 thousand, Serbia – 33.9 thousand, Germany – 24.3 thousand, Republic of North Macedonia – 21.7 thousand, Austria – 17.2 thousand, Italy – 16.0 thousand, the United Kingdom – 13.8thousand, Spain – 10.3 thousand.
In November 2019, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 609.7 thousand, or by 6.0% more in comparison with November 2018. An increase in the trips with all purposes was registered: ‘holiday and recreation’- by 9. 1%, ‘others’ (including as guest or transit) – by 5.7% and ‘professional’ – by 1.7%. Transits through the country were 27.5% (167.5 thousand) of all visits of foreigners to Bulgaria.
The share of visits of ЕU citizens was 51.5% of the total number of foreigners’ visits to Bulgaria in November 2019 or by 0.4% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year. A decrease was registered in the visits of citizens from Austria – by 5.8%, Greece – by 5. 7%, the Netherlands – by 1.8%, Romania – by 1.3%, and etc. At the same time, there was an increase in visits from the United Kingdom – by 19.0%, Italy – by 13.6%, Germany – by 10.2%, Poland – by 7.9%, France – by 3.0%. The visits of foreigners in the group ‘Other European countries’ increased by 13.6%, and the highest increase was observed in the visits of citizens of Turkey – by 25.1%. In November 2019, the predominant share of the visits with other purposes was 47.3%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purpose – 32.9%, and with professional purpose – 19.8% (Figure 5).
In November 2019, the most visits to Bulgaria were from: Romania – 128.5 thousand, Turkey – 109.6thousand, Greece – 88.7 thousand, Serbia – 53.2 thousand, Republic of North Macedonia – 45.6 thousand, Ukraine – 18.7 thousand, Germany – 16.7 thousand, the United Kingdom – 13.6 thousand, Italy – 12.2 thousand, Poland – 9.8 thousand.