The number of nights spent in hotels in Bulgaria is down and 3 times below the EU average, according to the lasted data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The total number of nights for 2009 are 14, 2 M which is a 16,5% reduction compared with the previous year. In the EU, nearly 1,5 billion nights were spent in hotels and similar establishments, a decrease of 5 % compared with 2008, after an annual change of – 0,2% in 2008 and +3,5% in 2007.

The number of hotel nights spent by residents in their own country in 2009 fell by 1,6% and hotel nights spent by non-residents fell by 9,1%. For Bulgaria the percentages are – 9% and – 20% respectively.

Amongst the Member States, the highest numbers of nights spent in hotels in 2009 were recorded in Spain (251 M nights, -6,5% compared with 2008), Italy (238 M, -4,3%), Germany (216 M, -1,4%), France (191 M, -5,6%) and the United Kingdom (170 M, -1.7%). These five countries accounted for more than 70% of the total number of hotel nights in the EU.

The number of nights spent in hotels in 2009 fell in all Member States, except Sweden (+0,1%). The largest decreases were recorded in Latvia (-23,3%), Lithuania (-20,4%), and Cyprus (-19,7%) and the smallest in Germany (-1,4%), the United Kingdom (-1,7%), and Slovenia (-2,1%).

In 2009, non-residents accounted for 44% of the total number of nights spent in hotels in the EU. Apart from the two Mediterranean islands, Malta (96%) and Cyprus (89%), the highest proportions of non-residents were registered in Latvia (73%), Greece and Austria (both 72%). The lowest proportions of non-residents were recorded in Romania (15%), Germany (20%), and Sweden (24%).

The highest numbers of hotel nights spent by non-residents were registered in Spain (142 M, -8,9% compared with 2008), while for residents the highest levels were observed in Germany (173 M, -0,6%).

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