Trips by Bulgarians Abroad Dip in October, Foreigners’ Visits Rise

The number of Bulgarians travelling abroad fell by 1.8% year-on-year in October, reaching 300,900, the statistics office said on Thursday.

While trips by Bulgarians to Serbia, Romania, Italy and Austria decreased last month compared to October 2013, trips to France, Germany, the UK, Greece and Turkey picked up, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a statement.

Tourism travel accounted for 33% of all trips by Bulgarian residents abroad last month, an increase of 61% compared to October 2013.

Business trips increased by 5% year-on-year to account for 26% of all trips abroad by Bulgarian residents last month.

While travel relating to visits to friends and relatives, education, and cultural and sport events dropped by 28% year-on-year to 41% of all trips abroad by Bulgarian residents in October, tourism trips surged 61% to 33% of the total number.

Unlike trips by Bulgarians abroad, the number of foreign visitors to Bulgaria increased by 1.9% year-on-year in October, reaching 557,100.

Visits for business and tourism purposes by non-residents decreased by 7.8% and 23.3%, respectively, compared to October 2013, while trips relating to visits to friends and relatives, education, and cultural and sport events in Bulgaria increased by 31%, the NSI said.

EU citizens accounted for 54% of the total number of foreigners’ visits to Bulgaria last month, an increase of 0.2% in comparison with October 2013.

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