Travel And Tourism in Bulgaria
Euromonitor International's Travel And Tourism in Bulgaria report offers a comprehensive guide to the market at a national level. It looks at travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, tourist attractions and retail travel. It identifies the leading companies and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market, including background information on disposable income, annual leave and holiday taking habits.
Buy online to access strategic market analysis and an interactive statistical database of market size data for travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, travel retail, tourism attractions and health and wellness tourism, tourism inflows and outflows, tourism spending and company and brand shares.
Tables: 101 | Publication date: Nov 2009
Why buy this report
- Get insight into trends in market performance
- Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
- Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment
Product coverage
Car rental; Demand factors; Health and wellness tourism; Tourism flows domestic; Tourism flows inbound; Tourism flows outbound; Tourism receipts and expenditure; Tourist attractions; Transportation; Travel accommodation; Travel retail
Executive summary
Inbound and outbound trips record double-digit growth
Despite surging fuel prices at the beginning of the year and a deepening world economic crisis at the end, 2008 was a good year for Bulgarian tourism, with both incoming as well as outgoing trips recording double-digit growth year-on-year. Only domestic tourism demand grew slower as Bulgarians increasingly travelled abroad – some of them eager to get to know other European countries, while others were attracted by good value packages for holidays in nearby Turkey or Greece. Receipts from incoming visitors grew at a slower rate as Bulgaria is most popular among holidaymakers looking for good-value-for-money packages, and attracts few affluent visitors.
EU membership stimulates tourism
Bulgaria’s accession to the EU in 2007 is the major driver of the dynamic development of the travel and tourism industry. In 2008, EU membership continued to stimulate both incoming as well as outgoing travel. Citizens of fellow EU member states comprise the largest segment of inbound visitors, and their share increased further in 2008. Bulgarians also predominantly prefer European destinations. At the same time, visitor numbers from other traditional markets, such Russia, Serbia and Macedonia, have not completely recovered following a drop in the previous year due to the introduction of a visa regime.
Competition within tourism environment increasing
The presence of big-name international players in the Bulgarian travel and tourism market, such as low-cost carriers, tour operators, car rental companies, as well as online retailers, is leading to increasing competition in the respective niches. The competition, however, is tightest in the accommodation environment, particularly among hotels along the sea coast, where foreign presence is actually very limited. Hotel owners are facing challenges not only due to overdevelopment, but also due to competitive prices offered by owners in neighbouring Turkey and Greece, which are luring away domestic holidaymakers.
Online sales slow to take off
Although online bookings are rapidly increasing in some areas, such as car rental or travel, they are much less common in the niches dominated by smaller, independent establishments such as travel accommodation. Overall, the Internet is not yet widely used to purchase travel products by Bulgarians, but is popular as a tool to search for information.
Domestic travel to make up for decreasing inbound and outbound trips
At the end of 2008 there were signs of slowing growth, with both incoming as well as outgoing visitor numbers decreasing sharply. In the context of a global economic crisis, consumers abroad and at home are cutting out luxuries such as overseas travel, and both incoming and outgoing tourist flows are likely to record negative growth rates in 2009 before slowly beginning to recover in 2010. The government is relying on domestic tourism not only to make up for the withdrawal of foreign visitors, but also to help the economy stay out of recession.
Table of contents
TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN BULGARIA : MARKET INSIGHT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Inbound and outbound trips record double-digit growth
EU membership stimulates tourism
Competition within tourism environment increasing
Online sales slow to take off
Domestic travel to make up for decreasing inbound and outbound trips
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Economic Indicators
Legislative Environment
Government tourism policy
Sustainable Tourism
Consumer Lifestyles
Low Cost Carriers
Emerging Niches
Internet Developments
EU membership stimulates tourism
TERRORISM AND SECURITY
LEAVE ENTITLEMENT
CONSUMER DEMOGRAPHICS
BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
MARKET INDICATORS
Table 1 Leave Entitlement: Volume 2005-2008
Table 2 Holiday Demographic Trends 2003-2008
Table 3 Holiday Takers by Sex 2003-2008
Table 4 Holiday Takers by Age 2003-2008
Table 5 Length of Domestic Trips: 2003-2008
Table 6 Length of Outbound Departure: 2003-2008
Table 7 Seasonality of Trips 2005-2008
MARKET DATA
Table 8 Balance of Tourism Payments: Value 2003-2008
DEFINITIONS
Tourism parameters
Travel accommodation
Transportation
Car rental
Travel retail
Tourist attractions
Health and wellness
Internet sales
Internet sales: dynamic packaging
Internet sales: traditional package holiday
Summary 1 Research Sources
LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - BULGARIA
ALBENA TOUR JSC - TRAVEL AND TOURISM - BULGARIA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 2 Albena Tours JSC: Key Facts
Summary 3 Albena AD: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
Summary 4 Albena Tours JSC: Competitive Position 2008
BDZ EAD - TRAVEL AND TOURISM - BULGARIA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 5 BDZ-EAD: Key Facts
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
Summary 6 BDZ EAD BDZ EAD: Competitive Position 2008
BULGARIA AIR EAD - TRAVEL AND TOURISM - BULGARIA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 7 Bulgaria Air EAD: Key Facts
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
Summary 8 Bulgaria Air EAD: Competitive Position 2008
HERTZ BULGARIA - TRAVEL AND TOURISM - BULGARIA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 9 Hertz Bulgaria: Key Facts
Summary 10 Hertz Bulgaria: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
Summary 11 Hertz Bulgaria: Competitive Position 2008
TOURISM FLOWS INBOUND IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
INBOUND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
MODE OF TRANSPORT
PURPOSE OF VISIT
CITY ARRIVALS
INCOMING TOURIST RECEIPTS BY COUNTRY
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 9 Arrivals by City in Bulgaria 2007/2008
Table 10 Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2003-2008
Table 11 Leisure Arrivals by Type 2005-2008
Table 12 Business Arrivals: MICE Penetration 2005-2008
Table 13 Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2003-2008
Table 14 Arrivals by Purpose of Visit: 2003-2008
Table 15 Incoming Tourist Receipts by Country: Value 2003-2008
Table 16 Tourism Expenditure by Sector: Value 2003-2008
Table 17 Method of Payments for Incoming Tourist Receipts: % Breakdown 2005-2008
Table 18 Forecast Arrivals by Country of Origin: 2008-2013
Table 19 Forecast Arrivals by Method of Transport: 2008-2013
Table 20 Forecast Arrivals by Purpose of Visit: 2008-2013
Table 21 Forecast Incoming Tourist Receipts by Country: Value 2008-2013
TOURISM FLOWS OUTBOUND IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
DESTINATIONS
OUTBOUND DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
MODE OF TRANSPORT
PURPOSE OF VISIT
OUTGOING TOURIST EXPENDITURE BY COUNTRY
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 22 Departures by Destination: 2003-2008
Table 23 Leisure Departures by Type 2005-2008
Table 24 Business Departures: MICE Penetration % Breakdown 2005-2008
Table 25 Departures by Method of Transport: 2003-2008
Table 26 Departures by Purpose of Visit: 2003-2008
Table 27 Outgoing Tourist Expenditure by Country: Value 2003-2008
Table 28 Outgoing Tourist Expenditure by Sector: Value 2003-2008
Table 29 Method of Payments for Outgoing Tourism Spending: % Breakdown 2005-2008
Table 30 Forecast Departures by Destination: 2008-2013
Table 31 Forecast Departures by Method of Transport: 2008-2013
Table 32 Forecast Departures by Purpose of Visit: 2008-2013
Table 33 Forecast Outgoing Tourist Expenditure by Country: Value 2008-2013
TOURISM FLOWS DOMESTIC IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
DESTINATIONS
MODE OF TRANSPORT
PURPOSE OF VISIT
DOMESTIC TOURIST EXPENDITURE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 34 Domestic Trips by Destination: 2003-2008
Table 35 Domestic Trips by Purpose of Visit and by Method of Transport: 2003-2008
Table 36 Domestic Tourist Expenditure: Value: 2003-2008
Table 37 Method of Payments for Domestic Tourism Spending: % Breakdown 2005-2008
Table 38 Forecast Domestic Trips by Purpose of Visit and by Method of Transport: 2008-2013
Table 39 Forecast Domestic Tourist Expenditure: Value: 2008-2013
TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
HOTELS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 40 Hotel Performance in Bulgaria 2007/2008
Table 41 Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2003-2008
Table 42 Travel Accommodation Outlets by Sector: Units 2003-2008
Table 43 Travel Accommodation by Sector: Number of Rooms 2003-2008
Table 44 Regional Hotel Parameters 2008
Table 45 Travel Accommodation Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2003-2008
Table 46 Hotel National Brand Owners by Market Share 2004-2008
Table 47 Hotels National Brand Owners by Key Performance Indicators 2008
Table 48 Forecast Travel Accommodation Sales by Sector: Value 2008-2013
Table 49 Forecast Travel Accommodation Outlets by Sector: Units 2008-2013
Table 50 Forecast Travel Accommodation Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2008-2013
TRANSPORTATION IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
AIRLINES
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 51 Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2003-2008
Table 52 Airline Capacity: 2003-2008
Table 53 Airline Utilisation: 2003-2008
Table 54 Airline Passengers Carried by Distance: % Breakdown: 2003-2008
Table 55 Transportation Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2003-2008
Table 56 Airline Market Shares 2004-2008
Table 57 Airlines National Brand Owners by Key Performance Indicators 2008
Table 58 Forecast Transportation Sales by Sector: Value 2008-2013
Table 59 Forecast Transportation Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2008-2013
CAR RENTAL IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 60 Car Rental Sales by Sector and Location: Value 2003-2008
Table 61 Structure of Car Rental Market: 2003-2008
Table 62 Average Car Rental Duration by Sector 2004-2008
Table 63 Average Car Rental Duration: % Breakdown 2004-2008
Table 64 Time of Booking: % Breakdown 2005-2008
Table 65 Car Rental Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2003-2008
Table 66 Car Rental Market Shares 2004-2008
Table 67 Car Rental National Brand Owners by Key Performance Indicators 2008
Table 68 Forecast Car Rental Sales by Sector and Location: Value 2008-2013
Table 69 Forecast Car Rental Sales by Sector: Internet Transaction Value 2008-2013
TRAVEL RETAIL IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
GROWTH SECTORS
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 70 Travel Retail Outlets by Sector: Units 2003-2008
Table 71 Travel Retail Products Sales: Value 2003-2008
Table 72 Travel Retail Sales by Destination: % Value Breakdown 2003-2008
Table 73 Travel Retail Online Sales by Sector: Internet Transaction Value 2003-2008
Table 74 Travel Retail Products Market Shares 2004-2008
Table 75 Travel Retail Products National Brand Owners by Key Performance Indicators 2008
Table 76 Forecast Travel Retail Outlets by Sector: Units 2008-2013
Table 77 Forecast Travel Retail Products Sales: Value 2008-2013
Table 78 Forecast Travel Retail Online Sales by Sector: Internet Transaction Value 2008-2013
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 79 Tourist Attractions Sales by Sector: Value 2003-2008
Table 80 Tourist Attractions Visitors by Sector: 2003-2008
Table 81 Tourist Attractions Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2003-2008
Table 82 Leading Tourist Attractions by Visitors 2003-2008
Table 83 Forecast Tourist Attractions Sales by Sector: Value 2008-2013
Table 84 Forecast Tourist Attractions Visitors by Sector: 2008-2013
Table 85 Forecast Tourist Attractions Sales: Internet Transaction Value 2008-2013
HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOURISM IN BULGARIA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 86 Number of Hotel/Resort Spas: Units 2003-2008
Table 87 Health & Wellness Tourism Sales by Type: Value 2003-2008
Table 88 Spa Consumer Markets: Domestic Tourism 2005-2008
Table 89 Spa Consumer Markets: Arrivals 2005-2008
Table 90 Forecast Health & Wellness Tourism Sales by Type: Value 2008-2013