Number of foreign tourists in Bulgaria marks increase in December 2012

The number of foreign tourists visiting Bulgaria in December 2012 has gone up by 8% year on year, shows data from the National Statistical Institute.

The biggest increase was marked in the number of Turkish, Russian and Serbian visitors, whereas the one of EU tourists remained flat. The Israeli tourists started to show higher interest in holidays to Bulgaria. The number if Israelis visiting this country in December was 16% lower as compared to December 2011. In the months following the terrorist attack in July 2012, it saw a 100% decline year on year.

The number of Russian tourists saw 70% increase in December and the one of Serbian visitors-21%. The highest increase was registered in the number of Turkish citizens- 600%, as their number in December 2011 amounted to only 1500 people.

Adapted from Bulgarian National Radio