Bulgarians Join Balkan Protest Against Soaring Food Prices
Bulgaria has joined Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro in organizing protests against rising food prices
Eurostat's latest data unveiled a promising trend in the European Union's tourism sector, indicating a robust recovery from the shadows cast by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report released on Friday, the total number of nights spent in tourist accommodations across the EU soared to nearly 3 billion in 2023. This marks a noteworthy 6.1% surge compared to the previous year and a commendable 1.4% uptick from pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
In Bulgaria, the tourism landscape is showing signs of resilience and growth. Despite the lingering effects of the pandemic, the country witnessed an 11.1% increase in overnight stays in tourist accommodations in 2023 compared to the previous year. However, it's noteworthy that these numbers have yet to fully rebound to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, with a slight decline of 1.1% still evident, as per Eurostat's findings.
The allure of Bulgaria as a tourist destination remains strong, with over 26.86 million tourist nights recorded in 2023. International visitors contributed significantly to this figure, accounting for over 14.55 million nights, while domestic tourists also played a substantial role, contributing more than 12.31 million nights.
Analyzing the data monthly provides further insights into the fluctuating nature of tourism. In October 2023, Bulgaria witnessed a decline in tourist nights to 1,066,642, a stark contrast from the peak season witnessed in August, where a record-breaking 6,329,576 nights were recorded. Such variations highlight the seasonal patterns and dynamics within the tourism industry.
Spain, France, Germany, and Italy emerged as the frontrunners in terms of the absolute number of nights spent in tourist accommodations in 2023. With Spain leading the pack with 464.17 million nights, closely followed by France, Germany, and Italy, these destinations continue to attract a significant influx of visitors, contributing to the overall recovery of the EU tourism sector.
A recent survey by digital payments company Visa reveals that most Bulgarians planning a winter vacation prefer to pay digitally at ski resorts
Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadzhov announced in Parliament that Bulgaria expects the arrival of two additional medical helicopters by the end of March.
Travel agency GoVola reports a significant increase in travel bookings among Bulgarian tourists, with January emerging as the most cost-effective time to secure flights
Overnight prices for the upcoming summer tourist season in Bulgaria are expected to rise by 30%
Bulgaria Air has been ranked among the top ten airlines in Eastern Europe in the Skytrax World Airline Awards for 2024
The full integration of Bulgaria into the Schengen area has further complicated the already existing challenges in hiring foreign workers, particularly in the tourism sector
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