Sofia

Sofia, Bulgaria, scores 58 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #168 of 309 destinations. 26 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 79% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: 58
• OECD: 56
• UN Tourism: 55
• UNDRR: 56

Strongest

• Recovery against 2019: 114.9 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (National Statistical Institute (NSI) Bulgaria, District Sofia (Stolitsa) Regional Statistics & City Statistics, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 5 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 7.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.

Weakest

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 42.1 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria / Eurostat, 2024). Below 45: grade 0/4.
• Rent growth: 16 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Deloitte (cited via Bulgarian Properties Market Digest), 2024). Above 15: grade 0/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 67.6 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (Bulgarian Water Association / National Statistical Institute (NSI), 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.

Bulgaria in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index

Bulgaria is #39 of 110 countries (4.34 of 7) in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which scores countries, not cities. Cities in countries with that WEF score average 61 on the CIRA Index; Sofia is 3 below that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 45

• Nights in the three busiest months: 40.7 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 40 and 50: grade 1/4. Source
• Domestic share of nights: 33.9 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Eurostat / National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria, table [tour_occ_nin3], 2024). Between 25 and 35: grade 2/4. Source
• Largest foreign market: not measured yet
• Recovery against 2019: 114.9 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (National Statistical Institute (NSI) Bulgaria, District Sofia (Stolitsa) Regional Statistics & City Statistics, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4. Source
• Average length of stay: 2.3 nights per visitor (Sofia Municipality / Visit Sofia via The Sofia Globe, 2024). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4. Source
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 42.1 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria / Eurostat, 2024). Below 45: grade 0/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 83

• Jobs in tourism industries: 4.7 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI), Annual statistics on employment and labour costs - 2024, 2024). At or below 8: grade 4/4. Source
• Unemployment rate: 1.2 % of the labour force (region figure) (National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI), Unemployed and unemployment rates - national level; statistical regions; districts, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Income per head: 44,451 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4. Source
• Economic diversity: not measured yet

Climate and hazards: 65

• Extreme heat days: 5 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Tropical nights: 7.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4. Source
• Flood hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. Source
• Wildfire and storm hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. Source
• Country disaster risk: 2.7 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4. Source

Water and environment: 44

• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
• Wastewater safely treated: 67.6 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (Bulgarian Water Association / National Statistical Institute (NSI), 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4. Source
• Municipal waste per resident: 488 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA) / Eurostat, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4. Source
• Green space: 26.9 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (NATURVATION / European Commission Urban Atlas, 2012). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source

Community and housing: 58

• Tourism intensity: 1.8 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria, District Sofia (Stolitsa), 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Cruise pressure: not measured yet
• Rent growth: 16 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Deloitte (cited via Bulgarian Properties Market Digest), 2024). Above 15: grade 0/4. Source
• Short-let density: 0.6 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (metro figure) (AirDNA and Eurostat / National Statistical Institute (NSI) Bulgaria Census, 2025–2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4. Source
• Resident support for tourism: not measured yet

Access and continuity: 63

• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Sofia Municipality / Ministry of Transport and Communications, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4. Source
• Air traffic recovery: not measured yet
• Rail share of intercity access: not measured yet
• Rail traffic recovery: not measured yet
• Largest airline group share: not measured yet
• Air route concentration: not measured yet
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection & Sofia Municipality, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4. Source
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Sofia Municipal Council / Municipal Enterprise 'Tourism', 2024–2025). Grade 1/4. Source
• Government effectiveness: 51.4 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 40 and 60: grade 2/4. Source
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4. Source
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Ministry of Finance / Sofia Municipality, 2024–2025). Grade 2/4. Source

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