22% More Turkish Tourists in Bulgaria Last December
Bulgaria saw a 22 per cent increase in Turkish visitors during December 2023, as the Ministry of Tourism revealed.
Considering this trend, Bulgarian authorities will focus on promoting the destination in the Turkish market, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Bulgaria’s Tourism Minister, Zarista Dinkova, highlighted the importance of increasing tourism from Türkiye. She stated they are collaborating with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs to resolve visa issues.
I know that the main problem for tourists from Türkiye is the issuance of visas, so we are actively working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to resolve this issue.
Last year, Bulgarian authorities announced a stricter visa policy, prohibiting entry to foreigners with a valid Schengen visa who have not used it to enter a Schengen member state before arriving in Bulgaria.
Turkish drivers complained regarding this decision, saying they are facing many challenges to enter Bulgaria. Hence, they urged authorities to exempt them from this policy.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism revealed they plan to work with the Turkish tourism sector to attract more tourists.
Although Turkish tourists mostly come by land, I hope that the air Schengen will also enable those with Schengen visas to enter our country more easily.
Additionally, Bulgarian authorities unveiled they will invite the Turkish side to hold the fifth session of the Bulgarian-Turkish Tourism Committee in Bansko.
In addition to Turkish tourists, Bulgaria recorded a 20 per cent increase in Polish tourists last year. Authorities revealed that 90 per cent of them visited the country for a summer holiday, while their favourite destinations were Nesebar with Sunny Beach and the region of Varna.
Travel & Tourism To Contribute 10% of Bulgaria’s Economy by 2033
Starting March 31, 2024, Bulgaria will partially access the Schengen Zone by air and sea. This policy implies that the state will no longer check people entering from Schengen Member States through these borders.
Due to this new policy, Bulgarian authorities anticipate more visitors this year. In addition to the tourism boost, minister Dinkova noted that Bulgaria’s accession will facilitate several inconveniences that travellers may have faced while entering the country.
Considering the increase in tourism in Bulgaria, the World Travel & Tourism Council predicts that by 2023, ten per cent of the Bulgarian economy will be driven by this sector.
Recently, Bulgaria has been chosen as a “Preferred Destination” for 2024 by the European Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ECTAA).
