Bulgarian Ambassador Vows Visa Simplification for Russian Tourists in 2015

Bulgaria will simplify visa requirements for Russian tourists in 2015, according to Boyko Kotsev, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Russia.

Russians account for the fourth largest group of tourists in Bulgaria, according to reports of Russian news agency RIA Novosti, as cited by Sega daily.

In 2014, some 650 000 Russian tourists visited Bulgaria, just 1% up from 2013.

Over 400 000 Russians own property in Bulgaria.

Kotsev, as cited by RIA Novosti, specifies that visa regime simplification involves the preferential issuance of visas to people who have already visited Bulgaria and have not violated the visa regime.

"We plan to issue multiple-entry one-year visas to people who have already visited Bulgaria and have not caused violations.

This is an advantage especially for children who come to Bulgaria with their parents. Analogous measures are planned for owners of real estate - they are to be entitled to multiple-entry visas for a period of up to 3 years," according to Kotsev.