Wednesday, July 23, 2025
With a significant policy decision, Bulgaria now welcomes more international visitors. From July 15th 2025 on, the new visa strategy, grants applicants with longer stay rights and easier application processes in line of its goals to open Turkey travel causally. This comes at a time when the global tourism sector is emerging from covid-19; countries are actively making strategic efforts to upgrade their tourism services in order to attract those precious overseas visitors.
Bulgaria’s Visa Relaxation for Turkish Citizens
Miroslav Borshosh, Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism, announced that the country would now be making available a one-year visa, a three-year visa, and a five year visa for Turkish citizens who have no violations on their previous visas.
This goes beyond the traditional three month and six month visas it brings in a way of visa validity that cascades.Each extension of visa duration means longer durations for Turks in Bulgaria will become more possible, therefore less frequent visas will be needed.
As part of a broader effort to strengthen relations with Turkey and attract tourists from the neighbouring country, it takes the decision. The new visa rules mean that Turkish tourists can now travel in a more flexible and comfortable manner when planning their trips, particularly for long stays and frequent vacations. It is expected that this will bring great benefits to Bulgaria from the visits of Turks–Bulgaria plays an important role in European travel markets.
Impact on Bulgarian Tourism
According to Borshosh, Turkish tourism to Bulgaria has made remarkable growth in the first half of 2025. In the first five months of 2025, the number of Turkish tourists coming this way was up 60% over the same period last year. This boom shows how Bulgaria’s scenic landscapes, deep reserves of cultural heritage, and cheap travelian options are starting to attract an increasing number of Turkish travelers.
With the new visa relaxation, Bulgaria expects this growth to continue, particularly during the summer season. Borshosh mentioned that preliminary data for the start of the summer season also looked promising, and the government was optimistic about maintaining the upward trend in Turkish tourist arrivals. The minister highlighted that the new longer visa durations would allow Turkish visitors to stay for extended periods, contributing positively to Bulgaria’s tourism industry.
Other Countries Relaxing Visa Policies
Bulgaria is not the only country to introduce easier visa policies in recent times. Several nations have followed suit, easing entry restrictions to encourage tourism and strengthen international relations. Here are some other countries that have relaxed their visa rules, similar to Bulgaria:
🇨🇳 China
China has expanded its visa-free policy to citizens of 74 countries, including Australia, Germany, and Argentina, allowing stays of up to 30 days. This initiative is part of China’s strategy to boost tourism and improve its global image. Additionally, 55 other countries, including the U.S. and Indonesia, are eligible for 10-day transit visas, making it easier for travelers to visit China for short-term stays.
🇷🇺 Russia
Russia has introduced a 30-day visa-free entry scheme for Indian citizens, effective until the end of 2025. This move aims to foster stronger ties between Russia and India, while also increasing the number of Indian tourists visiting Russia’s cultural and historical sites.
🇵🇭 Philippines
The Philippines has implemented a 14-day visa-free stay for Indian nationals and a 30-day visa-free stay for those holding valid visas or permanent residency from select countries. This change is expected to increase the number of tourists from India, as well as from other nations with strong travel connections to the Philippines.
🇲🇳 Mongolia
Mongolia has also joined the list of countries easing visa rules. The country has extended its visa-free access to citizens from 34 countries, including European Union members, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. This move is aimed at increasing Mongolia’s appeal as a tourist destination, particularly for travelers interested in nature tourism and cultural experiences.
🇶🇦 Qatar
Qatar has eased its visa policies by offering visa-free entry to citizens of various countries, including China, Mexico, and Brazil, among others. The introduction of these relaxed rules is expected to drive more tourists to Qatar, especially with the World Cup 2022 still fresh in travelers’ memories.
🇯🇴 Jordan
In June 2025, Jordan and Russia signed a visa-free travel agreement, allowing citizens of both countries to visit each other for up to 30 days per trip without the need for a visa. This move strengthens the cultural and tourism ties between the two countries, which have seen increasing interactions in recent years.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Argentina recently announced that Chinese citizens holding valid U.S. entry visas will no longer need to apply for a separate Argentine visa. This policy change is part of Argentina’s broader effort to attract tourists from China, one of the fastest-growing outbound tourism markets.
The Future of Tourism in Bulgaria and Beyond
While Bulgaria’s decision to ease its visa requirements will eventually be seen as a successful test bed for less intrusive visa policies generally, current globally brings the idea of lightening travel restrictions to the fore as far as more and more countries are beginning to permit visa-free entry. Once travel starts to return, such a trend appears set to snowball.
The new visa policy not only makes travel to Bulgaria simpler for Turkish citizens, but it also transforms their enjoyment of the country’s overall environment. The relaxed visa rule means more freedom and longer stays in Bulgaria, making it an even more enticing destination large numbers from Turkey every year.
For Bulgaria and other countries that have relaxed visa policies it is likely that benefits such as increased revenues from tourism, enhanced bilateral relations with other countries, or even building on an existing international partnership may come to pass very soon. In the future, travel to these lands looks promising; with less obstruction in the way of visits than at any previous time and more widespread contacts between peoples of various cultures worldwide, humanity itself finds a new stage for development.
