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.

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.

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.