Bulgarian tourism shifts toward luxury hotels amid declining visitor numbers

Data from the National Statistical Institute for June 2026 indicates a shift in Bulgarian tourism patterns. Despite economic challenges, there is a growing preference for luxury accommodations. In 4 and 5-star hotels, Bulgarian citizens accounted for 47.3% of overnight stays, while foreign tourists represented 79.9% of stays in these high-end establishments.

Overall, the total number of overnight stays reached 3,692,100, marking a 3.6% decrease compared to the previous year. The number of overnight visitors also fell by 3.1%. Total bed occupancy stood at 37.4%, a decrease of 2.2 percentage points year-on-year.

On the Black Sea coast, the tourist demographic is changing. Traditional visitors from Germany and England are notably absent from areas like Sunny Beach, reportedly due to logistical issues with charter flights. Instead, the market is seeing more visitors from Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Experts attribute rising accommodation costs to increased prices for food, consumables, and higher staff wages.