According to these numbers, the nation saw an increase of 4% when compared to the same period in 2019, most of which was driven by Bulgarian tourists, according to EU Helpers.
However, both domestic and international visitors' cumulative overnight stays are still 8% below pre-pandemic levels.
According to the figures, over 1.1 million Bulgarian tourists registered between June and July 2023, a rise of 4% over the same period last year. Additionally, this shows a rise of 28.6% from 2019 to this year.
On the other hand, NSI highlighted that international tourist registrations for the period of June to July 2023 approached 1.3 million, representing an increase of 20% over the same period in 2022.
The same source emphasized that 88% of foreign tourists are expected to return for the months of June through July 2023, which indicates that they have decreased by more than 12% from pre-pandemic levels.
The following markets saw the most number of visitors in Bulgaria between June and July 2023, based NSI data:
348,000 in Romania
Hungary - 144,000
Deutschland: 98,000
75,003 Czech Republic
68,0 United Kingdom
54,000 in Israel
According to NSI, these numbers show a visitor flow from Romania and the Czech Republic that has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels when compared to those observed in 2019. Similar progress has been made in the Polish market toward pre-pandemic levels. Although there has been improvement in the German and UK markets since last summer, the outcomes have not yet caught up to those of 2019.
According to a research issued in July 2023 by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the travel and tourism industry in Bulgaria will expand significantly by 2033 and contribute 10% to the national GDP.
The study also predicts that by 2023, Bulgaria's travel and tourist sector would have recovered strongly, surpassing 75% of its peak levels in 2019.