This winter tourist season – between December and the end of March, Bulgaria expects about 3.1 million foreign visitors, while last year their number was 2.9 million. Rumen Draganov, director of the Institute for Analyzes and Forecasts of the Information Environment in Tourism, who is also an advisor to the Acting Minister of Tourism, said this in an interview with BTA. Forecasts point to a 5 percent increase in tourist visits from abroad to Bulgaria this winter season compared to last year and more than 20 percent compared to 2019, when the industry reported a weak season.
The winter tourist season will open on December 7 in the city of Pamporovo and then on December 14 in Bansko and in the other resorts, said Draganov. The official Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev will participate in the opening of the season in Pamporovo and Bansko.
Of the expected total number of visits by foreigners this winter, nearly 2 million will be for the purpose of tourism, those who will choose our country for ski tourism will be about 300,000. About 400,000 will be the foreign guests who will arrive in our country for cultural tourism in an urban historical environment and balneo vacation, the majority will visit loved ones, relatives and friends, for other types and business tourism.
During the winter season, Bulgarians make up the majority of balneo and spa tourists – about 80 percent, the rest are foreigners, the expert said. About 80,000 foreigners are expected to arrive for programs related to spa tourism in the country this winter, and nearly 320,000 Bulgarian citizens.
The total number of trips by Bulgarians during the winter season is expected to be around 4.5 million. with highly prominent trips at the end of the weeks. In the period between December 20 and January 2, around 120,000 Bulgarians are expected to celebrate Christmas and New Year abroad, and in the country – 720,000. About 200,000 people out of these 720,000 will travel extensively – two or more times in this period. The most will be visits to the country to relatives, friends and relatives, followed by those in a second home, for ballroom, spa and wellness, for ski tourism and in guest houses.
The expected revenues in tourism in total from Bulgarians and foreigners this winter season amount to 3 billion. leva. Compared to 2019 this will be an increase of about 30 percent and it is mainly due to inflation and some other processes related to increasing the level of tourist supply, commented Draganov and added that the most sensitive is the increase in revenues in four- and five-star hotels. Compared to the last winter season, the increase in revenues in tourism is nearly 15 percent, the expert pointed out.
We expect the most visits this winter from the neighboring countries – Turkey, Greece and Romania. In total, about 65 percent of the expected tourists this winter will be EU citizens, and 35 percent will be from countries outside the Community.
Vacation this winter will be more expensive by between 3 and 7 percent.
Draganov also commented on the budget procedure for next year and pointed out that if the new budget is not adopted, it will mean that for national advertising for tourism in 2025 as well. there will be 14 million leva, and the budget of the Ministry of Tourism will be within about 25 million. leva. According to the expert, this is not expected to have a negative effect on tourism, because the main share of Bulgaria's performance abroad is mainly due to the tourism industry. About 68 million euro is the consolidated volume of our country's expenditure on advertising, and this amount includes the costs of the branch for participation in digital sales, of the relevant department, the advertising budgets of other ministries and cultural institutions and even the activity of advertising the product by citizens through publications in social networks, commented Draganov.