Bulgaria, Greece Mull Travel Restrictions on Russia, Slovakia Prioritises Vaccinated

People spend time on the beach near the town of Shabla, Bulgaria, 03 July 2020. EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

On Thursday, Bulgaria's Chief Health Inspector, Dr Angel Kunchev, told Nova TV that Bulgaria might limit Russian citizens' access to the country because of the spread of the Delta variant in Russia.

If this happens, it will be another blow to the tourist industry on the Black Sea coast, which traditionally counts on high interest from Russian tourists. 

"I'm aware of the amount of frustration this measure will bring, especially when many hoped for a regular season," Kunchev said, of the possibility of Russia joining Bulgaria's "red list" of countries where there is a high risk of infection. "If the situation remains the same [however], I'll put the idea on the table." 

Because of COVID-19-related regulations, groups from Russia were until recently not allowed into Bulgaria except as individuals. As a consequence, seasonal direct flights from Moscow to Varna and Burgas, the two biggest towns on the Black Sea coast, started atypically late, on June 30.

Since Wednesday, resorts have welcomed several hundred tourists from Russia in the hope of salvaging a partially financially successful season. Under Bulgaria's current rules, arrivals must present a certificate of vaccination, а negative PCR test, or a document that the passenger has recovered from the coronavirus.

On June 30, the Greek Ministry of Tourism announced that, due to the spread of the Delta mutation in Russia, all arrivals will now have to produce a negative PCR test, whether they are vaccinated or not. In addition, all travellers from Russia will be tested on arrival in Greece; double testing is not required in Bulgaria.

Greece recently came under fire for its...