In June 2009, trips made by Bulgarians abroad totalled 485,892, which was 10.8 per cent fewer than in June 2008, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Monday. Visits of foreigners to Bulgaria in June 2009 totalled 957,271, down 12.7 per cent from June 2008.

Trips of Bulgarians to almost all countries under surveillance decreased. The largest decrease was observed in trips to Denmark, 49.3 per cent, followed by the Czech Republic, 48.5 per cent, Malta, 48 per cent, the US, 43.5 per cent, Italy, 42.3 per cent, Cyprus, 40.9 per cent, France, 39.3 per cent, Austria, 38.2 per cent, the UK, 36.4 per cent, the Netherlands, 35.8 per cent, Belgium, 35.6 per cent, Ukraine, 35.6 per cent, and Sweden, 33.7 per cent.

An increase in trips compared to June 2008 was registered to Portugal, 169.8 per cent, Turkey, 6.2 per cent, and Greece, 5.7 per cent.

The largest share of trips by Bulgarians abroad were business trips - 51.5 per cent, followed by trips for the purpose of recreation and holidays - 25.2 per cent, visiting with people - 19.8 per cent, and others - 3.5 per cent.

NSI reports that in June 2009, compared to June 2008, fewer visits from the EU to Bulgaria were made from Slovakia, 38.7 per cent, Hungary, 30.3 per cent, Romania, 29.2 per cent, Denmark, 27 per cent, Finland, 25.5 per cent, and Sweden, 23.5 per cent.

A more significant increase was registered of visits from Cyprus, 22.2 per cent, Slovenia, 21.2 per cent, France, 20.6 per cent, Belgium, 18.8 per cent, Austria, 13.4 per cent, and Poland, 13.1 per cent.

Among other countries, the largest decrease of visits occurred with travellers from Japan, 39.7 per cent, followed by Norway, 37.6 per cent, and Serbia, 34.9 per cent. Increase was registered for travellers from Ukraine, 8.6 per cent, and Russia, 2.9 per cent.

In June 2009, foreigners who visited Bulgaria for the purpose of recreation and holidays constituted the largest share of the total number of foreign visitors, 55.2 per cent, followed by transit travellers, 24.4 per cent, business travellers, 12.5 per cent, visiting with people, 1.7 per cent, and other reasons, 6.2 per cent.