The European Union as a whole has registered a slight decrease in the number of nights spent in hotels in 2008 along with a distinct fall at the end of 2008.

In 2008, 1 578 million nights were spent in hotels and similar establishments in the EU , a decrease of 0,5 % compared with 2007, after +3,4% in 2007 and +2,9% in 2006.

This data was published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

In the EU, the number of hotel nights increased by 1,6% in January-April 2008, decreased by 0,5% in May-August and fell by 3,2% in September-December, compared with the same periods in the previous year.

In 23 of the 26 Member States for which data are available, the lowest growth rates were recorded for the end of the year period (September-December).

The number of hotel nights spent by residents in their own country in 2008 was stable, while hotel nights spent by non-residents fell by 1,1%.

Amongst the Member States, the highest numbers of nights spent in hotels in 2008 were recorded in Spain, Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

The highest increases were recorded in Slovakia, Poland, and Latvia, and the largest decreases in Cyprus, Greece, the Netherlands and Bulgaria.

In the mean time, data released by the National Statistical Institute reveals that120 new hotels opened doors in Bulgaria in 2008.

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