Apart from Covid-19, the reason for the outflow of shoppers is the extremely busy Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint.
Edirne merchants complained to the district administration that Bulgarians are increasingly coming to the market in the border town. Apart from Covid-19, the reason is the extremely busy Kapitan Andreevo-Kapakule border checkpoint. They are demanding the creation of a special express corridor for those traveling to Edirne at a market, Maritza reported.
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Traders also called for speeding up customs procedures at the Kapakule border crossing, specifically for Bulgarian citizens.
“I have had a store in Edirne for 15 years. Due to the pandemic, our business was severely damaged. We barely pay the rent for the store. Bulgarians often have to wait at the border for 5 hours. For this reason, very few of them already come to shop, despite the extremely reasonable prices. Usually more people came over the weekend, but that’s not the case anymore. Previously, the main street here was closed to traffic due to the many Bulgarian tourists, but now this is not necessary because they do not come. We feared that from September there could be a new travel restriction due to the coronavirus wave in both countries, “said one of the affected traders, Khalil Girgin.
His colleague Burak Tuna added: “Here we do business mainly with Bulgarians. Wholesale, retail, food and detergents and consumables. As the requirement for AKP tests for the unvaccinated continues at the border, there are not many visitors to shop. Bus tours are not available. It’s quiet for now. The border checkpoint is too busy, mainly at the entrance with Bulgaria, because now is the season in which Turkish guest workers return to Europe after the summer holidays. There is a long queue at the checkpoint. They pass slowly. The inspections continue. That is why July-August is difficult, it is every year. For now, we are waiting like this. I hope it gets better. “
Metin Dogan also complains that his store is empty.
“Due to the difficult border procedures, the neighbors do not come. People say they wait at customs for 5-6 hours. Our request is to speed up customs procedures. I do not think that the Bulgarians will not want to come. They are also so upset that they can’t come here, “Dogan said.
Edirne, meanwhile, is one of the least affected by Covid-19 areas in Turkey with 66.46 cases per 100,000 population. The province ranks third in the country in terms of administered Covid-19 vaccines, with 87.8 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of vaccine.
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