The number of arrivals of visitors from abroad for holidays in Bulgaria in 2025 was 4.29 per cent higher than in 2024, according to figures released on February 17 by the National Statistical Institute (NSI).
According to the NSI, arrivals of visitors from abroad for holidays in Bulgaria in 2024 added up to 5 793 225, rising to 6 042 061 in 2025.
Outgoing Tourism Minister Miroslav Borsosh, speaking at a briefing on February 17, said that Bulgarian tourism was reporting a strong year, going by the NSI figures.
In 2025, more than 9.5 million tourists were registered in accommodation establishments in Bulgaria, growth of 5.8 per cent compared with 2024 and 16.1 per cent compared with 2019.
For the first time, Bulgaria reported a simultaneous increase in both Bulgarian tourists and foreign visitors compared with 2019, confirming the sustainable recovery of the market, Borsosh said.
Bulgarian tourist registrations in 2025 increased by 2.9 per cent, and foreign ones by 9.8 per cent compared to the previous year.
The total number of overnight stays reaches over 28.8 million, an increase of 4.2 per cent year-on-year compared with 2024.
Revenue from inbound tourism in January-November 2025 amounted to nearly 3.9 billion euro, 6.4 per cent more than in January – November 2024.
NSI statistics also show increased interest outside the active summer season. An increase in tourists was recorded in April, May, October and November, which is a sign of a gradual extension of the tourist season, he said.
In 2025, there is an increase in tourists compared to 2024 from Türkiye, Israel, Germany, Italy, France, Romania, Greece, Spain and Serbia and many other foreign markets, with an improvement in results also observed in the domestic market.
According to preliminary data from Eurostat, Bulgaria is among the top 10 countries in the European Union in terms of overnight stays growth in 2025, with the increase being approximately twice as high as the EU average, Borsosh said.
Source: https://sofiaglobe.com/
