Arrivals from abroad for holidays in Bulgaria in March 2026 down 16.6% y/y

The number of arrivals from abroad for holidays in Bulgaria in March 2026 was 16.6 per cent lower than in March 2025, according to preliminary data posted on April 29 by the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

The figure for March 2026 was 240 264 was close to 40 000 lower than the figure reported for March 2025.

The NSI did not venture an explanation for the sharp decrease, but March 2026 saw the consequences for the tourism industry of the war in the Middle East, following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began in late February.

In March 2025, there were 18 186 arrivals in Bulgaria from Israel for holidays. The NSI report on April 29 for March 2026 left the column for Israel blank, implying that there were no arrivals.

In all, of the 240 264 arrivals in Bulgaria in March this year, 185 075 were from other European Union countries, 51 620 from other European countries, 428 from “other countries” (a category that includes the United States, Canada and Israel) and 3141 from the “rest of the world” category.

The largest number of visits for holidays in Bulgaria in March this year were 67 782 from Greece, followed by 32 009 from Romania and 29 443 from Türkiye, according to the NSI.

(Photo: Lance Nelson of Bansko App)