The functions of department "Business trends, innovations and tourism" are realized in three thematic areas:

• Business tendencies - the business survey in industry, construction, retail trade and service sector, the survey of investment activity in industry and the consumer survey collect information from business managers and consumers about their opinions of present or expected changes of certain economic indicators providing timely information for developing quality short term prognoses for the development of the business climate in Bulgaria;

• Statistics of research and development activity (R&D) and innovations - the statistical surveys provide internationally comparable information about the characterization of resources (expenditure and personnel) on R&D and on product and process innovations as well as on organizational and marketing innovations introduced in the enterprises in Bulgaria;

• Tourism statistics - the surveys in this area collect information about arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria and trips of Bulgarian residents abroad, about accommodation establishments in Bulgaria, about the purposes of tourist trips of the population in the country and abroad and the expenditures made by them on their trips.

With regard to the thematic areas above the department has the following functions:

• It elaborates new and improves the existing methods, methodologies and instruments for carrying out the statistical surveys;

• It organizes and conducts the statistical surveys included in the National Statistical Programme and in accordance with the harmonized methods of the European Union;

• It develops and updates technical specifications for automated processing of the information from the statistical surveys;

• It participates in the coordination and updating of the normative base in accordance with the national and international standards;

• It is responsible for the quality, reliability, protection and dissemination of data from statistical surveys;

• It provides methodological help and assistance to the respondents, regional statistical offices and users of statistical information;

• It prepares analytical materials, supports time series and disseminates statistical information necessary for general statistical issues and international questionnaires;

• It prepares and forwards data to the European Commission, Eurostat and other structures of the European Commission within the legal deadlines, it provides information about interdepartmental agreements and information services to external users;

• It participates in working groups, task groups, seminars and other events organized by the European Commission, Eurostat and other international organizations.