Severe visa permit regime between Bulgaria and Turkey impeded Turkish ski tourists from visiting Bulgaria’s winter resorts, Turkish ambassador to Bulgaria Mehmed Guguk and Bulgarian Industrial Association chair Bozhidar Danev said.

Guguk asked to meet Danev because the new visa permit-issuing procedure was too difficult, slow and hindered the faster development of business between Bulgaria and Turkey, mediapool.bg said.

According to Guguk, an easier procedure would increase the number of Turkish tourists to Bulgaria’s winter resorts.

State Agency for Tourism (SAT) data showed that the number of Turkish tourists, who entered Bulgaria between January and September 2007 increased by nearly 20 per cent compared to the year before, exceeding 209 000 people.

In 2006, 231 000 Turkish tourists visited Bulgaria. At that time the new visa issuing procedure was not in force, because Bulgaria was not a EU member yet.