Smarter, cheaper, independently-for 10 years the travels of the Bulgarians changed

Martin Totev created 10 years ago Travelsmart.bg – an information platform and a community for active traveling Bulgarians. The mission of the platform is to help people travel smarter, cheaper and alone. It is published with bargain offers for traveling from Bulgaria to different points of

The world, providing easy instructions for self -booking.

He also publishes useful articles with travel tips, real stories from Bulgarian travelers and news from the tourism industry. All this is available for free for users. Here is Totev’s observations on the tourist habits of the Bulgarians 10 years later.

The change in the behavior of Bulgarian tourists (2015-2025)

In the last decade, there has been a significant transformation in the way Bulgarians plan and realize their trips. This change is the result of both global processes and internal social and technological factors.

In 2015, many Bulgarian tourists relied mainly on travel agencies to organize their vacations – from airline tickets to hotels and guide services. Self-organization was rare and was usually found only among more experienced or adventurous travelers.

Over time, this practice has undergone a serious evolution. The entry of online platforms such as Booking, Airbnb, Skyscanner and others, as well as the mass presence of low-cost airlines, have made the self-reservation of traveling more accessible and easily. At the same time, the platforms and airline sites themselves have greatly improved their user interface-they have become more intuitive, more convenient to use and, accordingly, more accessible to the wide audience. In parallel, there is a growing digital literacy and increasing trust in online services, which further encourages Bulgarians to take control of their trips.

An additional catalyst was the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, people learned to study up-to-date travel conditions themselves, to compare options, to plan more flexible, and to adapt to frequently changing circumstances.

By 2025, self -organization was already a preferred style for a huge part of active Bulgarian tourists – especially among the younger and more freely handling technology. More and more people are appreciating the freedom, control and economy of this approach. Travel agencies are no longer a major player, but rather an alternative to specific cases such as exotic destinations, group tours or corporate

Travels.

Preferred destinations and types of travel

In recent years, there have been a few clear trends among Bulgarian tourists:

 Increased interest in long trips outside Europe – including Asia, Latin America and the Middle East

 Rhode trias with cars, caravans or campers are gaining popularity among families and friendly groups, especially in Europe and the Balkans

 boom in digital nomads, etc. Workation Style of Travel – a combination of work and rest

 Increased search for authentic and « undiscovered » destinations away from mass tourism

 Interest in sustainable tourism (traveling with nature, local culture and economy) and destinations that can disappear or change irreversibly (the so -called Last Chance tourism).

 Search for shared experiences – events, festivals, thematic gatherings and communities.

Specific travel styles are also developed related to identity and interests – such as photographic tours, trips related to sports (surfing, skiing, diving, etc.), camping culture, etc. Interest in traveling to simple and authentic places in nature, which offer peace and escape from the hectic daily routine, is increasing. They attract people seeking environmental and local culture.

Information and Inspiration: The role of social networks

Social networks play a leading role in how Bulgarians choose destinations and plan their trips. Platforms like Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and YouTube are no longer just channels for fun, but key sources of inspiration and information.

The entry of the blogger and vlogger content provided users with real stories, routes, advice and recommendations in the first person, which replaced classical guides and even part of the role of travel agencies. Many people already choose their destination based on a video or photo from a real person, not on a recommendation or catalog.

Thanks to the available information and active online creators of tourist content, Bulgarian tourists are more informed today, flexible and spontaneous.

During the period 2015-2025, Bulgarian travelers have passed a long way – from the traditional tourist relying on agencies to assurances and independent traveler who uses digital instruments, social networks and personal experience to plan their adventures. Today, travel is not only more accessible, but also more free, meaningful and personally than ever.