Yagodina, Southern Bulgaria (BTA photo)
SOFIA, Bulgaria – The Ministry of Tourism quoted data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on Thursday, according to which the total number of registrations of Bulgarian and foreign tourists in accommodation facilities was over 2.4 million for the June-July 2023 period.
This is an increase of nearly 12 percent compared to the same period last summer season and nearly 4 percent higher compared to the same period of 2019 overall for the country, mostly due to the higher number of Bulgarian tourists.
The total number of nights spent by Bulgarian and foreign tourists is still 8 percent lower than the pre-pandemic level.
Bulgarian tourist registrations were over 1.1 million for the June-July 2023 period, an increase of 4% compared to the same period in 2022.
Compared to the same period of 2019, there is a significant increase of 28.6 percent.
Registrations of foreign tourists for the June-July 2023 period saw a 20 percent increase compared to the same period of 2022 and reached nearly 1.3 million.
Foreign tourists for the June-July 2023 period are about 12 percent less compared to the pre-pandemic level.
The results by market for the June-July 2023 period are:
Bulgarian tourists – more than 1.1 million registrations
Romanian tourists – 348,000
Polish tourists – more than 144,000
German tourists – more than 98,000
Czech tourists – more than 75,000
British tourists – more than 68,000
Israeli tourists – 54,000.
The reported growth rates for the June-July 2023 period year-on-year are: Bulgaria nearly 4 percent, Romania nearly 10 percent, Poland nearly 23 percent, Germany nearly 8 percent, Czechia nearly 13 percent, UK nearly 8 percent.
Comparisons with the same period in 2019 show that tourism flows from Romania and Czechia have already significantly surpassed the pre-pandemic level.
The Polish market has almost fully reached the pre-pandemic level.
There has also been some progress in recovery in the Germany and UK markets compared to the same period last summer season, however, results remain below 2019. (BTA)
