Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell 4.1% year-on-year to 1,251.9 thousand in September 2026, deepening from a 2.1% decline in August and marking the fourth consecutive month of annual contraction. Visits for recreation remained the largest category, accounting for 47.4% of arrivals, followed by other purposes (42.2%) and business purposes (10.4%). Visitors from European Union countries totaled 684.2 thousand, or 54.7% of all arrivals, with Romania accounting for the largest share (29.4%), followed by Greece (14.8%) and Germany (13.5%). Meanwhile, Malta and Cyprus accounted for the smallest shares, at 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Tourists from other European countries totaled 462.7 thousand, or 37% of arrivals, with Turkey accounting for 44.8% of this group, followed by Ukraine (22.5%) and Serbia (14.1%), while Norway accounted for the smallest share at 0.9%. Transit travelers passing through Bulgaria reached 390.3 thousand, or 31.2% of all visits by foreign citizens to the country. source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria

Tourist Arrivals in Bulgaria decreased to 1251874 in September from 2221194 in August of 2026. Tourist Arrivals in Bulgaria averaged 875363.57 from 1991 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 3531567.00 in December of 2003 and a record low of 81153.00 in April of 2020. This page provides - Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-29 08:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Aug -2.1% -1.2% 3.0%
2026-10-28 09:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Sep -4.1% -2.1% -0.3%
2026-11-27 09:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Oct -4.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -678.70 -1026.90 EUR Million Aug 2026
Capital Flows -136.60 2293.00 EUR Million Aug 2026
Current Account -96.00 -269.00 EUR Million Aug 2026
Current Account to GDP -6.10 -0.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 4032.20 4063.00 EUR Million Aug 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 68798.30 69836.30 EUR Million Aug 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 369.80 625.70 EUR Million Aug 2026
Gold Reserves 41.04 41.04 Tonnes Jun 2026
Imports 4710.90 5089.90 EUR Million Aug 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Natural Gas Imports 0.00 69412.50 Terajoule Sep 2026
Remittances 109.20 128.70 EUR Million Aug 2026
Terrorism Index 0.00 0.00 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals YoY 1251874.00 2221194.00 Sep 2026
Weapons Sales 33.00 19.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2024


Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1251874.00 2221194.00 3531567.00 81153.00 1991 - 2026 Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Fall 4.1% in September
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell 4.1% year-on-year to 1,251.9 thousand in September 2026, deepening from a 2.1% decline in August and marking the fourth consecutive month of annual contraction. Visits for recreation remained the largest category, accounting for 47.4% of arrivals, followed by other purposes (42.2%) and business purposes (10.4%). Visitors from European Union countries totaled 684.2 thousand, or 54.7% of all arrivals, with Romania accounting for the largest share (29.4%), followed by Greece (14.8%) and Germany (13.5%). Meanwhile, Malta and Cyprus accounted for the smallest shares, at 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Tourists from other European countries totaled 462.7 thousand, or 37% of arrivals, with Turkey accounting for 44.8% of this group, followed by Ukraine (22.5%) and Serbia (14.1%), while Norway accounted for the smallest share at 0.9%. Transit travelers passing through Bulgaria reached 390.3 thousand, or 31.2% of all visits by foreign citizens to the country.
2026-10-28
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Fall 2.1% in August
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell 2.1% year-on-year to 2,221.2 thousand in August 2026, deepening from a 1.2% decline in the previous month. Visits for recreation and excursions remained the largest share of purposes at 51.9%, followed by other purposes (43.2%) and business purposes (4.9%). Visitors from European Union countries totaled 1,307.3 thousand, or 58.9% of all arrivals, with the largest number coming from Romania at 419.2 thousand, or 32.1%, followed by Germany (16.2%) and Poland (8.5%). Tourists from other European countries totaled 741.4 thousand, or 33.4% of all visits to Bulgaria, with the largest number coming from Turkey at 346.5 thousand, or 46.7%, followed by Ukraine (23.5%). Elsewhere, visitors from other countries accounted for 2.1%, with Israel contributing 88.9% of the segment. Meanwhile, transit travelers passing through Bulgaria reached 840.6 thousand, or 37.8% of all visits by foreign citizens to the country.
2026-09-29
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Fall 1.2% in July
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell by 1.2% year-on-year to 1,979.7 thousand in July 2026, following a 0.2% decline in the previous month. Visits for recreation and excursions accounted for the largest share at 51%, followed by other purposes at 43.2% and business purposes at 5.8%. Visitors from European Union countries totaled 1,077.6 thousand, or 54.4% of all arrivals, with the largest number coming from Romania at 301.2 thousand, or 28%, followed by Germany (15.2%) and Poland (10.1%). Tourists from other European countries totaled 740.7 thousand, or 37.4%, with the largest number coming from Turkey at 312.7 thousand, or 42.2% of the segment, followed by Ukraine (27.3%) and Serbia (13.7%). Elsewhere, visitors from other countries accounted for 2.2%, with Israel contributing 86.9% of the segment. Transit travelers passing through Bulgaria reached 743.1 thousand, or 37.5% of all visits by foreign citizens to the country.
2026-08-27