Bulgaria's Jan-Oct Foreign Tourism Revenue Rises 1.3% to 2.272 Bln Euro

The number of foreign holiday makers visiting Bulgaria declined 0.2% to 5.281 million through October, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Visitors from EU member states accounted for 75.7% of the total number of foreign visitors in the first 10 months, 2.9% up from the same period last year.

The biggest number of foreign visitors came from neighbouring Romania in the first 10 months - 829,796 people, 9.6% down on the year. The figure for Romania includes shuttle traders.

Guests from Germany ranked second with 721,717 registered visits, 28.1% up on the year.Visitors from Poland scored the sharpest year-on-year rise in number, by 71.5% to 262,067 holiday makers. The highest year-on-year drop was reported for visitors from Sweden, down by 52% to 51,658.

A total 4.4 million Bulgarians travelled abroad in the first 10 months, 11.2% down from a year ago. The number of Bulgarians who visited EU member states dropped by 14.1% to 2.621 million through October.

($ = 0.661 euro)