In a promising turn of events for Bulgaria’s tourism sector, overnight stay revenues surged to new heights in November 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and igniting optimism for the industry’s future.
According to the latest data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), the month recorded a staggering BGN 69.1 million in revenues, eclipsing the November 2019 figures of BGN 42.8 million.
The remarkable increase of BGN 26 million, representing a robust 12.8% rise compared to November 2022, clearly indicates the tourism sector’s substantial rebound.
The NSI report further delineates the source of these revenues, with BGN 46.3 million contributed by domestic tourists and BGN 22.8 million from international visitors.
This showcases a 17.4% increase in revenue from Bulgarian visitors and a 5.1% rise from foreign tourists compared to the pre-pandemic period of November 2019.
Despite a slight dip in the occupancy rate to 23.8% in November 2023, down by 0.6 percentage points from the previous year, positive trends were observed across different establishment categories.
Four- and five-star establishments were leading the charge, boasting a robust 30.1% occupancy rate, followed by three-star establishments at 24.3% and one- and two-star establishments at 16.2%.
The month of November 2023 saw Bulgaria hosting 2,066 accommodation establishments, offering 59,600 rooms and 123,100 bed-plhttps://plevnapatriot.com/news/53929/bulgaria-us-and-allies-unite-in-denouncing-alleged-north-korea-russia-arms-transfers/aces.
Although there was a marginal 0.3% decrease in the number of accommodation establishments, the total bed-places increased by 4.1% compared to the same period in 2022.
The total number of overnight stays remained steady at 855,200, with Bulgarian citizens contributing 636,200 nights and non-residents 219,000 nights.
Accommodation establishments with four and five stars played a significant role in these numbers, accounting for 70.2% of nights spent by non-residents and 43.1% by Bulgarian residents.
The positive momentum extended to the arrival statistics, witnessing a 5.5% increase to a total of 424,700 arrivals in November 2023. Bulgarians reported a noteworthy 7.1% increase in arrivals, while foreign residents saw a modest 0.8% rise compared to the previous year.
These numbers are particularly encouraging, aligning with the upward trend observed in November 2019, which recorded an 11.5% year-over-year increase to 413,600 arrivals.
With 322,800 Bulgarian residents and 101,900 foreign residents spending the night in accommodation establishments, November 2023 showcased a promising average of 2 overnight stays for Bulgarians and 2.1 for foreign residents.
This resurgence in Bulgaria’s tourism industry demonstrates the sector’s resilience and suggests renewed interest and confidence from domestic and international travellers.
The positive trends in revenue, occupancy rates, and arrivals paint a vivid picture of recovery, offering hope for a prosperous future for the nation’s tourism industry.
As Bulgaria continues to navigate the post-pandemic landscape, the November 2023 data serves as a beacon of optimism and a testament to the industry’s ability to bounce back more vital than ever.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members