Bulgarians 4th in EU by Tourism Spending

According to data of Eurostat data, Bulgarians are fourth in the EU by spending on holiday trips and tourism. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarians are fourth in the EU by spending on holiday trips and tourism, according to data of Eurostat.

Against the backdrop of the financial crisis and the fact that Bulgarians have the lowest wages in the EU, a Bulgarian national spent an average EUR 2100 on holiday trips and tourism in 2011, according to the EU's Statistical Office.

According to data of Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI), in Q2, 2012, Bulgarians spent a total of over BGN 220 M on travelling, almost BGN 90 M of them on food, accommodation, etc at EU destinations.

In August 2012, over 420 000 Bulgarians travelled abroad, half of them to EU countries.

In August 2012, the most intense traffic flow was to Greece, which was visited by over 70 000 Bulgarians; Germany, visited by over 25 000 Bulgarians; Spain and Italy, visited by over 16 000 Bulgarians.

According to NSI, over 3.8 M Bulgarians travelled abroad in 2011, half of the trips again to EU countries.

The largest number of Bulgarians visited neighboring countries, with over 1.1 M Bulgarian tourists traveling to Turkey, over 1 M Bulgarians visiting Greece, and over 300 000 Bulgarians visiting Romania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

According to the Eurostat report, the biggest spenders were citizens of Luxembourg, EUR 6500 per person, followed by Danes with EUR 4400, Norwegians with EUR 2400, and Bulgarians with around EUR 2100.

In 2011, French spent around EUR 1700 on tourism, Germans around EUR 1500, Spanish citizens and Belgium nationals around EUR 1100.

The smallest amount of money on holiday trips and tourism were spent by

Romanians spent the smallest amount of money on holiday trips and tourism, EUR 160, followed by Hungary with EUR 290, and Poland with EUR 300.

According to the Eurostat report, in the period 2006 – 2011, when the tourism sector was most affected by the crisis, the 65+ age group accounted for the largest share of trips.

Eurostat data also indicates that the average duration of holiday trips in 2011 was 4+ nights.

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