In April 2020, the collapse of the trips of Bulgarian citizens abroad and the visits of foreigners to Bulgaria continued due to the suspension of international flights and the closure of the land borders because of the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
In April 2020, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 75.3 thousand, or by 87.9% under the registered in April 2019. In comparison with March 2020 the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad declined by 67.4%.
In April 2020, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 81.2 thousand or by 88.9% less in comparison with April 2019. Compared to March 2020, the drop was by 74.1%.
A collapse in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: ‘holiday and recreation’ – by 99.8%, ‘professional’ – by 84.5% and ‘others’ (including as guest and passing transit) – by 80.6%.
Transit passes through the country were 62.9% (51.1 thousand) of all visits of foreigners to Bulgaria.
The share of visits of ЕU citizens was 34.5% of the total number of foreigners’ visits to Bulgaria in April 2020 or by 93.1% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year. A drop in the visits of citizens from all observed countries was registered.
The visits of foreigners in the group ‘Other European countries’ decreased by 81.5%.