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Last year, just over 50,000 Russian tourists visited Bulgaria. This represents a significant drop compared to the period before 2019, when the country welcomed around 500,000 tourists annually. Mitrofanova, highlighting several factors behind this decline, first pointed to the disruption of direct air links between the two countries.

She also criticized the role of the European Union, noting that its actions contributed to the collapse of a bilateral agreement that facilitated visa procedures for Russian travelers. According to her, this has made travel to Bulgaria even more difficult for Russians.

Alexander Mkrtchyan, Vice President of the Russian Travel Agencies Association and CEO of the tour operator Pink Elephant, confirmed that in 2024 the number of Russian tourists coming to Bulgaria will be around 50,000, reflecting the continued impact of these difficulties on tourism from Russia.