A Year of Loss: Bulgaria's Roads Claim 356 Lives Amid Soaring Accident Rates
Since the beginning of 2024, Bulgaria has reported over 5,600 serious traffic accidents, resulting in 356 fatalities and more than 7,000 injuries
In October 2023, the National Statistical Institute revealed a notable surge in accommodation stays, totaling 1,066,600 nights—a 4.4% rise compared to the previous year. Among these, Bulgarian residents accounted for 701,900 nights, while non-residents contributed 364,700 nights to accommodation establishments across the country.
This increase was reflected in the expansion of accommodation options, with 2,232 establishments offering a range of stays from hotels to camping sites, experiencing a 1.4% growth compared to 2022. These establishments hosted 70,700 rooms and 150,600 bed-places, showcasing a 5.5% surge in capacity.
The preference for four- and five-star accommodations was evident, constituting 73.8% of non-residents' stays and 41.5% of Bulgarian residents' stays. Meanwhile, three-star establishments captured 16.6% of non-residents' stays and 29.2% of Bulgarian residents'. The data also indicated that 1- and 2-star accommodations made up 9.6% and 29.3%, respectively.
With a 1.8% increase in arrivals totaling 493,400, the October figures demonstrated a 9.6% rise in non-residents' arrivals, contrasting a slight 1.2% dip in Bulgarian residents' visits. On average, Bulgarian residents spent 2.0 nights, with 344,500 arrivals, while non-residents averaged 2.4 nights across 149,000 arrivals.
Occupancy rates also witnessed a positive shift, reaching 23.9%, marking a 0.6 percentage point increase from the previous year. The highest rates were observed in 4- and 5-star establishments at 27.7%, followed by 3-star accommodations at 25.9%, and 1- and 2-star establishments at 17.0%.
Moreover, October 2023 saw a remarkable 17.7% increase in total revenues from accommodation stays, amounting to BGN 83.8 million. Bulgarian residents contributed BGN 49.6 million, while non-residents accounted for BGN 34.2 million in revenues.
Gabriela Rumenova, creator of the "We, the users" platform, advises holiday travelers to start checking deals and booking early to secure accommodations for Christmas and New Year,
In August, 733,000 Bulgarians stayed at hotels, motels, and campsites within the country
Plovdiv Airport has announced the resumption of direct flights to Manchester
Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev announced that 2024 has been the best year for Bulgarian tourism since the introduction of statistical tracking. Indicators such as tourism revenue
Autumn has swiftly arrived, bringing with it the highly anticipated Oktoberfest, one of the world's most renowned festivals that attracts thousands of beer enthusiasts every year.
The Ministry of Tourism successfully showcased Bulgaria at Tourism Expo Japan 2024
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