site.btaSome 3.1 Mln Foreign Tourists and BGN 3-Plus Bln in Revenue Expected in Bulgarian Tourism This Winter

This winter tourist season, between December and the end of March, Bulgaria expects about 3.1 million foreign visitors, while last year their number was 2.9 million, Rumen Draganov, Director of the Institute for Analysis and Evaluation in Tourism and advisor to the caretaker Minister of Tourism, told BTA. The forecasts indicate a 5% increase in foreign tourist visits to Bulgaria this winter season compared to the previous one and an over 20% increase compared to 2019, when the industry reported a weak season.

The winter tourist season will open on December 7 in Pamporovo resort and then on December 14 in Bansko and other resorts, Draganov said. Caretaker Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev will participate in the opening of the season in Pamporovo and Bansko.

Of the expected total number of visits by foreigners this winter, nearly 2 million will be for tourism purposes, with ski tourism visitors being around 300,000, cultural tourism visitors being around 400,000.

During the winter season, Bulgarians will form the predominant share in balneo and spa tourism (80% or 320,000), with  80,000 foreigners expected to arrive.
The total number of trips by Bulgarians during the winter season is expected to be around 4.5 million, with highly prominent trips at the end of the weeks. In the period between December 20 and January 2, about 120,000 Bulgarians are expected to celebrate Christmas and New Year abroad, and 720,000 in the country. About 200,000 people out of these 720,000 will travel intensively, two or more times during this period. The most frequent visits will be to relatives, friends and loved ones in the country, followed by those in second homes, balneo and spa tourism and leisure,  ski tourism and guest houses.

Tourism revenues

The expected total tourism revenues from Bulgarians and foreigners during this winter season will amount to BGN 3 billion. Compared to 2019, this will be an increase of about 30% and it is mainly due to inflation and some other processes related to the increase in the level of tourist supply, commented Draganov and added that the most significant increase in revenues is in four- and five-star hotels. Compared to last winter season, the increase in tourism revenues will be nearly 15%, the expert pointed out.

Most visits this winter are expected from neighboring countries like Turkiye, Greece and Romania. In total, about 65% of the expected tourists this winter will be EU citizens, and 35% will be from countries outside the EU.

National tourism advertising

Draganov also commented on the budget procedure for next year and pointed out that if the new budget is not adopted, this will mean that national tourism advertising in 2025 will again receive BGN 14 million, and the budget of the Ministry of Tourism will be within about BGN 25 million. The expert explained that this is not expected to have a negative effect on tourism, because the main share of Bulgaria's presentation abroad is mainly due to the tourism industry. The consolidated volume of this country's advertising expenditure is about EUR 68 million and this amount includes the industry's costs for participating in digital sales, the line ministry's costs, the advertising budgets of other ministries and cultural institutions, and even product advertising by citizens through posts on social media, Draganov commented.