THIS year's launch of the winter tourism season saw a 17.2 per cent increase in foreign visitors in January compared to the same month last year.
This is according to figures released by the Economy Ministry last Friday.
The ministry said the largest increase was in the number of tourists from Germany, the UK, Central and Eastern European countries and other European Union member states.
In January, a total of 126 652 foreigners visited the country.
"This figure does not include children under legal age entering this country on their parents' passports," the ministry said.
After deducting shuttle traders coming from neighbouring countries, Greece tops the list with 36 631 visitors.
Macedonia occupies second place with 13 318 tourists followed by the former Yugoslavia with 4 596 visitors.
Israeli and German tourists totalled respectively 2140 and 2019, while Russian tourists and US visitors numbered 1778 and 1421. Turkish tourists numbered 1166 and those from Italy were 1100.
In the first 11 months of the past year, a total of 837 530 Bulgarians visited Turkey, and about 22 000 Turkish citizens visited Bulgaria in the same period.
According to Economy Ministry preliminary data, revenues from tourism in January-November 2002 totalled $1 270.4 million.
This was 9.9 per cent higher than the same period of 2001 and 5.8 per cent up on the January-December 2001 figure. The net income from international tourism for the first 11 months of the year was estimated at $697.8 million.
Bulgaria's nationals spent $572.6 million on foreign travel from January to November last year, 7.8 per cent more compared to the same period the previous year.
While the increase in international tourism was 3.1 per cent worldwide, and 2.8 per cent in Europe, Bulgaria saw an increase of 8.6 per cent.
This is according to figures released by the Economy Ministry last Friday.
The ministry said the largest increase was in the number of tourists from Germany, the UK, Central and Eastern European countries and other European Union member states.
In January, a total of 126 652 foreigners visited the country.
"This figure does not include children under legal age entering this country on their parents' passports," the ministry said.
After deducting shuttle traders coming from neighbouring countries, Greece tops the list with 36 631 visitors.
Macedonia occupies second place with 13 318 tourists followed by the former Yugoslavia with 4 596 visitors.
Israeli and German tourists totalled respectively 2140 and 2019, while Russian tourists and US visitors numbered 1778 and 1421. Turkish tourists numbered 1166 and those from Italy were 1100.
In the first 11 months of the past year, a total of 837 530 Bulgarians visited Turkey, and about 22 000 Turkish citizens visited Bulgaria in the same period.
According to Economy Ministry preliminary data, revenues from tourism in January-November 2002 totalled $1 270.4 million.
This was 9.9 per cent higher than the same period of 2001 and 5.8 per cent up on the January-December 2001 figure. The net income from international tourism for the first 11 months of the year was estimated at $697.8 million.
Bulgaria's nationals spent $572.6 million on foreign travel from January to November last year, 7.8 per cent more compared to the same period the previous year.
While the increase in international tourism was 3.1 per cent worldwide, and 2.8 per cent in Europe, Bulgaria saw an increase of 8.6 per cent.
