site.btaBulgarian Cities of Bourgas, Varna, Sofia, Dobrich and Blagoevgrad Top Five Most Popular Destinations for Foreign Tourists

Sofia, September 26 (BTA) - The cities of Bourgas, Varna, Sofia, Dobrich and Blagoevgrad are the top five most popular destinations for foreign tourists in Bulgaria, show data of the National Statistical Institute for 2016 released on the occasion of World Tourism Day, marked on September 27.

The five most preferred foreign destinations by Bulgarian holidaymakers are Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania.

Revenue from overnight stays by foreigners in 2016 was 377 million leva in Bourgas, 246 million leva in Varna, 99 million leva in Sofia, 82 million leva in Dobrich and 32 million leva in Blagoevgrad.

The largest number of foreigners visiting for holiday and recreation came from Germany - 586,794, followed by Russia - 538,348, Macedonia - 482,691, Turkey - 382,735, Romania - 353,920, and Serbia - 330,753. Russians spent the most time in Bulgaria - an average of 7.3 nights spent, followed by Germans - 6.5, and Romanians - 3.7. Turkish nationals spent the least time with an average of 1.9 nights spent.

Bulgarians' trips to Greece last years were 517,899, followed by Turkey - 291,554, Macedonia - 150,117, Serbia - 86,572, and Romania - 79,962.

A total of 10.6 million foreigners have visited Bulgaria in 2016, which is 24.3 per cent more than in 2008. More than half of them were men - 58.3 per cent. Foreign tourists in the 45 to 64 age group were Bulgaria's most frequent visitors, constituting 48.4 per cent of all foreign tourists in 2016. The 25 to 44 age group comes second with 42.1 per cent, while the fewest foreign tourists were over 65 years old - 3.9 per cent.

Trips of Bulgarians abroad in 2016 stood at 1.6 million, which is 5.8 per cent less than in 2008. Bulgarians in the 45 to 64 age group were the most active travellers abroad, followed by those between 25 and 44, while the least trips were registered among those between 15 and 24 - 12.7 per cent.

In 2016, Bulgarians spent on average of six nights in Greece, 5.2 in Turkey and 1.8 in Serbia.