This winter tourist season, from December to the end of March, Bulgaria welcomes about 3,1 million foreign visitors, while last year their number was 2,9 million, Rumen Draganov, director of the Institute for Analysis and Evaluation, told BTA in Tourism.

Forecasts show a 5 percent increase in foreign tourist visits to Bulgaria this winter season compared to the previous one, and an increase of over 20% compared to 2019, when the industry reported a weak season.

The winter tourist season will open on December 7 in Pamporovo and then on December 14 in Bansko and other resorts, Draganov said.

Of the total expected number of visits from foreigners this winter, nearly two million will be for tourism purposes, with ski tourism visitors numbering around 300,000, cultural tourism visitors numbering around 400,000.

During the winter season, Bulgarians will make up the majority of balneo and spa tourism (80% or 320,000), with 80,000 foreigners expected to arrive.

The total number of trips by Bulgarians during the winter season is expected to be around 4.5 million, with quite prominent trips at the end of the week. Between December 20 and January 2, around 120,000 Bulgarians are expected to celebrate Christmas and New Year abroad and 720,000 at home.

About 200,000 people out of these 720,000 will travel extensively, two or more times during this period. The most frequent visits will be to relatives, friends and loved ones in the country, followed by those to second homes, balneo and spa tourism and leisure, ski tourism and guest houses.

Most of the visits this winter are expected from neighboring countries such as Turkey, Greece and Romania. In total, about 65% of the tourists expected this winter will be EU citizens and 35% will be from countries outside the EU. /BTA