site.btaMay 2024 Revenues from Tourism Nights Grow by 32.2% Y/Y

Revenues from nights spent by tourists at accommodation establishments in Bulgaria amounted to BGN 115.9 million in May 2024, growing by 32.2% compared with May 2023. The total sum included BGN 58.8 million from foreign tourists and BGN 57.1 million from Bulgarians, the National Statistical Institute reported on Wednesday.

Tourists spent 1,426,900 nights in this country in May 2024, which was 14.4% more than a year earlier. Bulgarian tourists spent 740,600 nights, and foreign visitors spent 686,200 nights.

The number of tourists who used accommodation in Bulgaria in May 2024 went up by 15.9% compared with May 2023, reaching 611,100. Foreign tourists increased by 29%, and Bulgarian tourists increased by 8.7%. Bulgarian tourists numbered 370,400, and each of them spent an average of 2 nights at accommodation establishments in the country. Foreign tourists numbered 240,700, and each of them spent an average of 2.9 nights, with 80.1% staying at 4 and 5 star hotels.

Bed occupancy at accommodation establishments in Bulgaria in May 2024 averaged 20.9%, going up by 1.7 percentage points year on year. Occupancy was highest at 4 and 5 star establishments, where it stood at 23.5%, followed by 3 star establishments (20.1%), and 1 and 2 star establishments (15.9%).

Over the month in review, Bulgaria had 2,613 functioning accommodation establishments (hotels, motels, camping sites and huts, among other types) with 10 or more beds in them. They had 105,600 rooms with 233,500 beds. Accommodation establishments increased by 4.9% compared with May 2023, and beds increased by 4.4%.

Establishments categorized with 4 and 5 stars accounted for 82% of nights spent by foreign tourists in May 2024 and 43.7% of nights spent by Bulgarians. Three-star hotels provided accommodation on 10.5% of foreign visitors' nights and 27.5% of Bulgarian tourists' nights. The numbers reported by 1 and 2 star establishments were 7.5% and 28.8%, respectively.