In 2006 the number of foreign visitors to Bulgaria increased 2.98% year-on-year reaching 7.499 mln from 7.282 mln, NSI data shows.

A record number of foreign citizens visited Bulgaria in July and August - 1.319 mln and 1.354 mln respectively. The months with the lowest activity were January and February - 300 000 and 287 000 foreign visitors respectively.

58.2% of the foreign visitors to Bulgaria came as tourists, while 31.22% and 4.42% respectively were transit passers or came for business.

In 2006 Bulgaria was visited by 1.117 mln Romanians, followed by last year’s leaders - the Turkish with 849 mln visitors, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

Despite the drop in the number of tourists from Germany, Greece and Poland, these countries are also in the top 10 by number of visitors to Bulgaria, occupying 5th, 6th and 9th position respectively. UK, Russia and the Netherlands are also in the top 10.

Country2004200520061Romania612 630783 5631 117 2972Turkey760 913886 118849 2903Serbia853 101775 283826 7594Macedonia857 885755 286712 9415Germany719 825728 878663 7676Greece803 311714 239648 5467Great Britain278 823380 121425 9418Russia152 121177 590218 1949Poland236 381211 032158 01810Netherlands107 150129 170138 975