Foreign Tourists Spend 1.7 Billion Euro in Bulgaria

Foreign tourists have spent 1.661 billion euro in Bulgaria, according to data from the Tourism Agency. The takings are for the first nine months of the year and are by 10% more than for the same period last year. The sum does not include transport money, the agency said. By the end of October over 3.7 million foreigners spent their holidays in Bulgaria. Most holiday-makers came from Germany, despite tour operators' reports for decrease of the German market by 3%. According to Tourism Agency's forecasts this year the number of foreign tourists to Bulgaria will increase by at least 6% and earnings - by 2%. Last year Bulgarian hotels accommodated over 4.1 million tourists that spent in Bulgaria 1.8 billion euro.

Over 3.5 million Bulgarians spent their holidays abroad in the first ten months of 2005. They spent 623 million euro abroad. The favorite holiday destinations for Bulgarians are Turkey, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro, Germany and Macedonia. The forecasts of the World Tourism Organization point out that by the end of 2005 the number of tourists will grow by 5 to 6% globally and in the EU.