437 000 international tourists visited Bulgaria in January, a 19% growth compared to January 2017

Nearly 19% more international tourists visited our country this January. This is revealed by today’s stats of the National Statistical Institute. In 2018 the total international tourist visits to Bulgaria were over 437 000, whereas in January 2017 they stood at 368 000. Last year’s December results were also very favourable as the total international tourist visits to Bulgaria were 457 000, 15.2% more than December 2016.

During the December 2017 - January 2018 period the total number of international tourist visits to Bulgaria was nearly 895 000, a 17 per cent increase, compared to the December 20176 - January 2017 period. Presently, the results are very good, we are expecting this winter season’s international tourist visits to grow by some 10%, commented the Minister of Tourism, Nikolina Angelkova, adding that owing to the accumulated snow in recent days, the season is expected to last until late April, providing further positive effect.

Growth has been registered on a number of markets during the two winter season months. Tourists from Greece have increased by 13,3%, surpassing 198 000. Visitors from Romania were nearly 120 000, growing by 33 per cent. Guests from Turkey exceeded 117 000, registering a 21% growth. Growth is also registered on the Macedonia, Serbia, and Germany markets, by 8%, 17% and 12,8%, respectively. During December and January UK tourists were 19,8% more compared to the same period a year before. Visitors from Italy and the Ukraine grew by 18,8% and 15,4%, respectively, while the increase in Israeli guests is nearly 43%.

The minister reminisced that the 2016/2017 winter season was the most successful for our tourism since Bulgaria’s EU accession. The total international tourist visits were 1.476 mil., achieving a 19,6% growth. This means that the visits are over 242 000 more compared to the previous winter season.