A total of 2,755,717 foreign tourists visited Bulgaria for tourism purposes (exclusive of the children registered in their parents’ passports) in the year 2001, which was an increase of 17.06% compared to the year 2000.

The year 2001 saw a record-breaking number of German (374,323) and Greek (344,677) tourists.

Exclusive of peddlery from neighbouring countries the ranking by number of tourists for the year 2001 is headed by Germany with 374,323 tourists, followed by Greece with 344,677 tourists, Macedonia - 218,700 tourists, Russia-130,886 tourists, Yugoslavia - 71,900 tourists, Ukraine - 70,168 tourists, UK-69,202, Israel-50,368 tourists, Sweden-47,970 tourists, the Czech Republic - 36,986 tourists, Turkey - 35,400 tourists, Poland - 31,492 tourists, Slovakia - 30,999 tourists, Finland - 29,178 tourists, France-27,305 tourists, Austria-27,2543 tourists, USA-25,560 tourists, Belgium - 24,946 tourists, Romania-22,700 tourists, Denmark-19,372 tourists, Italy-17,318 tourists, the Netherlands-15,422 tourists, Belarus-15,386 tourists, Norway-10,485 tourists, etc.

Influence of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

October, November, December 2001 were the first 3 full months after the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the changes in the visa regime with Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, etc.

On the whole the consequences from the terrorist attacks are weakly felt, mostly as a reduction of the previous growth rate expectations. In October the number of US tourists dropped with -14.9% only, in November a +2.76% increase was registered and in December - +15.94% increase. In October the number of Canadian tourists registered an increase of +2.49%, in November - +19.42%, and in December - +18.24%. In October the number of tourists from Japan registered a decrease of -18.1%, in November the decrease was of -17.07% and in December 2001 - of - 6.92%.

* the percentage of increase or decrease are compared to the same months of the previous year

Influence of the changes in the visa regime

In October the number of Russian tourists dropped with - 68.99%, in November with - 59.04% and in December 2001 with - 45.89%. The decrease in the number of tourists from Ukraine was as follows: -81.44% in October, -64.61% in November and -73.83% in December 2001. The number of Georgian tourists dropped with 98.17% in October, -94.25% in November and -93.82% in December 2001.

* the percentage of increase or decrease are compared to the same months of the previous year

According to preliminary data, the revenues from international tourism (exclusive of transport) for the whole 2001 totaled 1,201.0 million US dollars (+11.8% up the 2000 level) equal to 8.9% of the GDP. The expenditures of Bulgarian nationals on travels abroad in the whole of 2001 totaled 568.8 million US dollars (+5.7% compared to the year 2000), equal to 4.21% of the GDP. The net revenues (positive balance) for the year 2001 from international tourism totaled USD 632.2 million (+17.9% compared to the same period of 2000), equal to 4.7% of the GDP.

International tourism in Bulgaria became the Number 1 exporting industry in the Bulgarian economy in 2001.

Tourism (including domestic tourism) accounts for 12-13% of the GDP. In the year 2000 international tourism earnings were in the range of USD 134 per capita and for the year 2001 USD 152 per capita are expected.

In the year 2000 Bulgaria accounted for 0.4% of all arrivals in the world, 0.7% of the arrivals in Europe and 3,6% of the arrivals in Central/Eastern Europe.

In the year 2000 Bulgaria also accounted for 0.23% of the world revenues from tourism, 0.46% of those revenues in Europe and 4.14% of the revenues in Centall/Eastern Europe, the tendency being for these figures to reach 0.25% , 0.50% and 4.5% for the year 2001 respectively.

The Ministry of Economy believes that despite the force majeure circumstances for world tourism as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent events, the year 2001 was extremely successful for Bulgaria with an increase in the number of foreign tourists exceeding 17% and in the revenues from tourism to the balance of payments exceeding 12%. The year 2001 was also marked by absolute record-breaking revenues from international tourism.