Two years ago there was approved using of e-visa system in Moscow. Under the system, preparation of documents for visiting Bulgaria was simplified to the utmost, which could not but please the tourists. However, recently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria announce cancellation of this system and its unwillingness to further work with the system. So Russian tourist agencies, which represented the source of inexhaustible flow of large tourist groups visiting Bulgaria, will not be able to file applications through the Internet. The documents will have to be submitted in paper to the centre of Indian company VFS Services. In its turn, the company immediately announced about increase in prices half as much again for document processing.
Interestingly, the decision made interferes with the governmental anti-recessionary measures, among which there is a point on simplifying the process of receipt of Bulgarian visa for the Russian tourists. Prompt and considerable change in the process of document preparation shocked the representatives of Association of Russian Tour Operators, and Bulgarian society called these measures an abuse of administrative power. Whereas majority of the countries try to increase their tourist inflows, Bulgaria virtually pushes away visitors from Russia, which rank sixth in terms of their quantity.
If Bulgaria wishes to join the Schengen zone, it should meet the requirements of the zone. Bulgarian embassy in Moscow commented that it was impossible to provide information about the tourists online. According to the embassy’s press centre, the issue is the fact that tour operators have no software, that would allow to work with personal data. In case of putting such software into operation, prohibition of online registration may be cancelled. Bulgaria explains such measures by preparation to the signature of the Schengen Agreement, but, according to the executive officer of Association of Russian Tour Operators, none of the Schengen countries demands for paper records from tour operators. Gradual recovery makes visits of Russians abroad possible, but such changes from the side of Bulgaria and increase in prices for document processing will push the tourists away from this country. E-visa system will be used again, but only if it will be properly regulated by the European visa code.
