Bulgaria Tourist Arrivals Fall 1.2% in July

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.

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.

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.