Tourism Revenue in Bulgaria Grows Despite Fewer Local Stays in August

In August, 733,000 Bulgarians stayed at hotels, motels, and campsites within the country, while another 500,000 traveled abroad during the same period, according to the National Statistical Institute's (NSI) report on tourism and accommodation revenues for the peak holiday month of the year.

The number of domestic tourists this August was higher compared to the same month in 2023, but the total number of their overnight stays and the average duration of stays slightly declined.

Despite the high activity in August, Bulgarian hoteliers' overall performance did not fully meet the summer expectations. The NSI recorded a modest rise in the number of foreign tourists' overnight stays and a drop among Bulgarians, along with a minimal increase in overall nights spent. However, the sector saw a stable growth in revenue, mainly driven by higher service prices.

The total number of nights spent in August remained at 6.3 million, consistent with the previous year. Foreign tourists accounted for 4 million of these, a 1.3% increase, while Bulgarians spent 2.3 million nights, marking a 2.2% decrease from August 2023.

Foreign tourists chose 4- and 5-star accommodations for 75.9% of their nights, and Bulgarians preferred them for 40.1% of their stays. In contrast, 3-star hotels hosted 17.8% of the foreign tourists' nights and 24.2% of Bulgarian stays. Low-tier 1- and 2-star accommodations saw 6.3% of nights by foreign guests and 35.7% by local tourists.

Overall, the number of overnight stays in the busiest month rose by 4.1% year-on-year, reaching 1.6 million. There was a 4.3% increase for foreign guests and a 3.9% rise for Bulgarians. The average stay was 3.1 nights for Bulgarians, with 733,000 citizens staying overnight, while 870,000 foreign...