A month after our entry into Schengen, we are reporting record traffic through the "Danube Bridge" near Ruse. About 5,000 vehicles pass through the facility daily, with their number more than twice as large as in the same period last year. And the shops and restaurants in Ruse were filled with Romanians. Is it just a trip for a walk on the opposite bank of the Danube that is the reason for this influx, or are there others?
Food in Bulgaria and Romania is almost the same price. However, there are two goods that mainly attract Romanians to Bulgaria - fuel and tobacco products, reports Nova TV. When filling up one tank of fuel in Bulgaria, Romanian citizens save about 50 lei or nearly 20 leva. Tobacco products are about 30% cheaper in Bulgaria compared to Romania. That is why they are perhaps one of the most sought-after goods. And despite the fact that the fee for crossing the “Danube Bridge” in both directions is 10 leva, shopping, walking and visiting some of the Bulgarian cities for Romanian citizens remain very effective.
Bulgaria has become a preferred place to shop after the two countries entered the Schengen area, especially for Romanians living in the border areas. More and more of them are crossing the Danube to fill up their tanks. The most significant growth has been in sales of tobacco products. Some of the specialized stores cannot even keep up with deliveries.
“After we entered Schengen, there are many Romanians not only on weekends. "Along with cigarettes, they also buy alcohol," says a saleswoman.
In the restaurants around the river and in the central part of Ruse, it is no longer possible to find seats without a prior reservation, even for lunch. Local restaurateurs attract them with traditional Bulgarian cuisine. In addition to being solvent, the Romanians turned out to be friendly customers.
"Cheerful, smiling, they try to greet us in Bulgarian and send us off in Bulgarian," says Velina Mihaylova.
Restaurant owners expect the summer to be much busier and they are planning to increase their staff. In contrast, hotels are not reporting an increase in guests from Romania. The reason is that most Romanians prefer family day trips to Ruse.
That's why the local hotel and restaurant industry association is developing a strategy to attract the northern neighbors for longer through tourist and culinary attractions. The industry believes that the entry of both countries into the eurozone will give an even greater boost to the economy, as there will be no need to convert currencies when shopping.