Headline: Romanian Tourists Flood Bulgarian Stores and Restaurants After Schengen Zone Entry
Subhead: Bulgaria and Romania celebrate newfound freedom as border controls disappear, signaling a boost in tourism.
Five days since Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen zone as full members, the impact is already visible in the northern Bulgarian city of Ruse. Local shops and eateries are filled with Romanian citizens making the most of the abolished border controls.
At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2025, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Atanas Ilkov and his Romanian counterpart Catalin Prădoiu officially lifted the barrier at the Danube Bridge, accompanied by the European Union anthem played by a Romanian military orchestra.
The historic moment was also captured by Bulgarian border police officers. Officer Georgi Ivanov immortalized the occasion with a snapshot in front of his workplace, where he had long collaborated with his Romanian colleagues.
While the atmosphere was festive, border officials from both countries brace for more complex challenges ahead. "We’re facing increasingly complicated tasks," they told BNR.
The surge in Romanian tourists is expected to continue until January 8, when Romania returns to work after the holiday season. Traffic on the Danube Bridge may be disrupted due to ongoing repairs, but border checks are now a thing of the past.
Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union in 2007 but had to wait 16 years to gain full access to the Schengen area. The elimination of border controls is set to foster closer ties and stimulate tourism between the two countries.
