Decreasing number of Russian tourists visit Bulgaria due to the slow visa-issuing procedures, Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) head Blagoi Ragin said.

To deal with the issue, Bulgaria has to increase the number of its employees in diplomatic missions to Russia, Ragin said.

Tourism partners in Russia said that they might re-direct their activities to Greece or Turkey in case the situation remains unchanged, Focus news agency reported.

The number of tourist visits to Bulgaria this year can reach five to 5.5 million people, Ragin said. The country’s tourism capacity is 10 to 12 million people annually.

Most foreign tourists will come from Germany, the UK and Romania. Black Sea coastal resorts will also attract Czech, Polish and Hungarian tourists.

A decrease is expected in the number of visits from Macedonia and Serbia. Because of Bulgaria’s EU entry, visitors from the two countries now need visas to enter Bulgaria.