In October 2011, the number of arrivals of foreign visitors to Bulgaria was 6.6% more than the number of these trips in the corresponding month of 2010.

The total number of foreign visits in October was 508.8 thousand, according to data of the National Statistics Institute, NSI, released Monday.

The largest increase was registered in the number of visitors who came on vacation - by 1.7%.

In October 2011, the arrivals of visitors from EU Member States rose by 2.5% in comparison with the same month of 2010. The highest growth in the number of visits was observed from Italy and Hungary - by 11.2% and 9.8% respectively.

A decrease was registered in the visits from Latvia - by 22.9%, Malta - by 18.2%, Netherlands - by 16.0%, etc.

The visits of foreigners in the group "Other European Countries" increased by 10.2%. The largest growth in the number of arrivals was registered for citizens of the Ukraine - by 25.5%, Serbia - by 18.2%, and Macedonia - by 11.2%.

In October 2011, arrivals with vacation purpose represented the greatest share of the total number of foreigners who visited Bulgaria - 37.7%, followed by transit visitors - 30.2%, business trips - 18.2%, and others - 13.9%.

In October 2011, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 296 thousand, which was 1.5% more than the number of the trips in October 2010.

An increase in the total number of the trips was registered for Poland - by 18.3%, Estonia - by 14.3%, Netherlands - by 11.8%, Slovenia - by 11.5%, Belgium - by 11.3%, Czech Republic - by 8.4%, Germany - by 8.1%, Ukraine - by 7.8%, Italy - by 7.5%, Austria - by 6.8%, Cyprus - by 6.4%, France - by 6.0%, United Kingdom - by 5.6%, etc.

At the same time, a decrease was observed to the US - by 26.9%, Latvia - by 20.0%, Ireland - by 18.2%, Portugal - by 17.5%, Norway - by 13.5%, Lithuania - by 10.5%, and etc.

Business trips had the highest share of trips of Bulgarian citizens abroad - 55.1%, followed by other purposes (visits of friends and relatives, education, visiting cultural and sport events etc.) - 25.9%, and vacation - 19.0%.

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