Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell by 1.4% year-on-year to 786.5 thousand in April 2026, reversing a 0.5% increase in the previous month. This marked the first annual contraction in tourist arrivals since June 2025, as trips for other purposes declined by 4.8%, while professional visits fell by 1.3%, whereas holiday and recreation travel increased by 3.2%. EU citizens accounted for 55.4% of total arrivals, or 435.6 thousand, with the largest shares coming from Romania (41.2%) and Greece (30.8%). Meanwhile, visitors from other European countries made up 38.5%, or 303 thousand, led by Turkey at 60.2% of that group, or 182.5 thousand. In addition, transit passes accounted for 30.8% of all non-resident visits to Bulgaria, or 242.6 thousand. source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria

Tourist Arrivals in Bulgaria increased to 786526 in April from 771215 in March of 2026. Tourist Arrivals in Bulgaria averaged 862829.91 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 June of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-29 08:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Mar 0.5% 2% 2.1%
2026-05-29 08:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
Apr -1.4% 0.5% 3.6%
2026-06-26 08:00 AM
Tourist Arrivals YoY
May -1.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -1426.20 -810.70 EUR Million Mar 2026
Capital Flows -1818.70 -1174.80 EUR Million Mar 2026
Current Account -1610.30 -415.80 EUR Million Mar 2026
Current Account to GDP -5.70 -0.50 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 4095.20 3547.10 EUR Million Mar 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
External Debt 69535.30 65157.10 EUR Million Mar 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 631.50 707.50 EUR Million Mar 2026
Gold Reserves 41.04 42.93 Tonnes Mar 2026
Imports 5521.40 4357.80 EUR Million Mar 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Natural Gas Imports 0.00 77937.11 Terajoule Apr 2026
Remittances 127.00 110.10 EUR Million Mar 2026
Terrorism Index 0.00 0.00 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals YoY 786526.00 771215.00 Apr 2026
Weapons Sales 14.00 19.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2024


Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
786526.00 771215.00 3531567.00 81153.00 1991 - 2026 Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Fall 1.4% in April
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria fell by 1.4% year-on-year to 786.5 thousand in April 2026, reversing a 0.5% increase in the previous month. This marked the first annual contraction in tourist arrivals since June 2025, as trips for other purposes declined by 4.8%, while professional visits fell by 1.3%, whereas holiday and recreation travel increased by 3.2%. EU citizens accounted for 55.4% of total arrivals, or 435.6 thousand, with the largest shares coming from Romania (41.2%) and Greece (30.8%). Meanwhile, visitors from other European countries made up 38.5%, or 303 thousand, led by Turkey at 60.2% of that group, or 182.5 thousand. In addition, transit passes accounted for 30.8% of all non-resident visits to Bulgaria, or 242.6 thousand.
2026-05-29
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Up Just 0.5% in March
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria rose by 0.5% year-on-year to 771.2 thousand in March 2026, slowing from a 2% increase in the previous month. An increase of 5.5% was registered in the trips with professional purposes and of 1.1% in those with holiday and recreation purposes, while those with other purposes decreased by 1.3%. EU citizens made up 56.7% of total arrivals, or 437.5 thousand, the largest being by visitors from Romania (36.9%) and Greece (31.0%). Visitors from other European countries accounted for 38.3% of arrivals, totaling 295.6 thousand, with the highest registered number of visits from Turkey, representing 59.1% of this group, or 174.7 thousand. The transit passes through the country were 31.8% or 245.0 thousand of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.
2026-04-29
Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Up 2% in February
Tourist arrivals in Bulgaria increased by 2% year-on-year to 735.2 thousand in February 2026, down from 790.3 thousand in the previous month, increase in trips for all monitored purposes was registered. Visits for holiday and recreation totaled 288.1 thousand, professional trips reached 113.4 thousand, and other purposes accounted for 333.8 thousand. EU citizens made up 55.1% of total arrivals, or 405.1 thousand, led by Romania (43.6%) and Greece (24%). Visitors from other European countries accounted for 37.5% of arrivals, totaling 275.4 thousand, with Turkey representing 54.7% of this group. Transit visits made up 28.2% of total entries, or 207.5 thousand.
2026-03-30