According to the latest figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) released on Monday, Bulgarians made 564 771 trips abroad in May, which represented an increase of 16.8 % compared to the same month last year.

Compared to May last year, the greatest increase was recorded in the number of trips to Germany, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Greece and Spain.

At the same time, there was drop in the number of trips to the Netherlands, Russia, the UK and Macedonia.

Trips for other purposes (visiting friends and relatives, education, attending cultural and sports events) represented the greatest relative share of all trips made by Bulgarians abroad. These were followed by holiday travel and excursions and business trips.

Compared to the same month in 2015, there was increase in the number of all three types of trips.

In May, trips for other purposes represented 73.4 % and 72.8% of all trips made by Bulgarians respectively to Hungary and Romania.

Business trips accounted for 52 % of all trips to Poland, while holiday travel and excursions constituted 72.7 % and 59.3 % of all trips made by Bulgarians respectively to Israel and Spain.

In May, foreigners made 808 258 trips to Bulgaria, which represented an increase of 13.1 % compared to the same month in 2015.

There was increase in the number of trips for other purposes and holiday travel and excursions, while the number of business trips dropped.

Out of all foreigners visiting Bulgaria last month, the share of EU citizens was 62.6 %, which represented an increase of 16.8 % compared to May 2015.

There was increase in the number of visitors from France, Romania, the UK, Austria and Italy. At the same time, the number of visitors from Slovenia, Croatia, Spain and Germany decreased.

There was 10.3 % increase in the number of foreigners from other European countries, with the largest rise being in the number of visitors from Russia.

In May, trips for other purposes had the largest relative share, followed by holiday travel and excursions and business trips.

Holiday travel and excursions accounted for 96.3 % and 84.9 % of all trips made by respectively citizens of Israel and Russia.

Business trips represented 60 % and 53.3 % of all trips made by Dutch and Czech visitors, while 71.6 % and 62.2 % of all trips made by Romanians and Greeks were for other purposes.

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