site.btaQ3 Travel Statistics: Majority of Bulgarians Travel Domestically, Most Make Their Own Travel Arrangements and Spend the Most of Budget on Food

New official statistics show that most of the travel by Bulgarian people in the third quarter of 2024 was inside the country, that the majority make their own travel arrangements and spend the most of their travel budget on food. The conclusions are based on a survey that was published by the National Statistical Institute on Friday.

It shows that 1.8 million Bulgarian residents made tourist trips in the third quarter of 2024. 72.3% travelled only in the country, 20.8% only abroad, and 6.9% both in the country and abroad.

The number of travelling persons aged 15 and over remains unchanged from the same quarter of 2023.

Most Bulgarians who travelled (703,200 or 38.6% of all travellers) were aged 25 - 44 years.

The share of trips in the country dominated in all age groups, the highest (78.3%) being in the 65+ age group.

The share of residents aged 25 - 44 was largest among those who travelled abroad (23.6%).

The majority of tourist trips in the country (73.4%) and abroad (72.0%) were for the purpose of holiday and recreation.

A total of 2.1 million, or 83.2% of the total number of private tourist trips were independent travelers who made their own travel arrangements. The relative share was 89.2% for domestic travel and 65.6% for travel abroad.

Traveling Bulgarians spend the most of their budget on food (41.6% for domestic and 30.8% for outbound travel).

The average expenditure on private trips per person was BGN 498.99 for domestic travel and BGN 849.05 abroad.

The average expenditure per person on a professional trip was BGN 288.96 BGN for domestic travel and BGN 1,232.93 for travel abroad.

The survey is representative and was conducted on the basis of a households’ sample in the country. The objects of the survey were residents aged 15 and older. Interviews were done with all persons aged 15 and older, who are members of the selected households. For the purpose of estimation, the survey used current demographic data on the total population aged 15 and older by place of residence (urban/rural), sex and age groups as of the end of 2023.