Bulgarian, Russian tourist organisations opposed to new regulations
Members from the largest Bulgarian tourist organisations will discuss on April 26 the new visa rules for Russian tourists with representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, Bulgarian media reported.
Representatives from the Bulgarian Association of Tourist Agencies, the Bulgarian Hoteliers and Restaurants Association, the Union of Investors in Tourism and the Union of Spa Tourism, as well as hoteliers from Slunchev Bryag and and Zlatni Pyassutsi resorts would attend the talks with Government officials, the reports said.
It was announced that as of last week, Bulgarian operators selling tourist packages in Russia could no longer process applications online, as done in the past.
Instead, tourists are now asked to take their paperwork to the visa centre ran by the Indian company VFS Services, who in turn have increased their pricing by 50 per cent, according to media reports.
The tourist organisations both in Bulgaria and Russia have been staunchly opposed to the new regulations.