While negotiations on the abolition of land border controls, which will allow the Balkan countries Bulgaria and Romania to fully join the Schengen Area, are still ongoing, both countries have been members of the European Union since 2007, but unlike many other European citizens, they have to show a passport to enter other EU countries.
In 2024, Romania and Bulgaria will start the process of joining the schengen area on 31 March, simplifying border controls and possibly changing many other aspects, and there is much speculation as to whether they will follow in the footsteps of Croatia, a newcomer to the Schengen Area, which has been criticised for raising prices since its entry.
While Bulgaria and Romania are not expected to convert their current currencies to the Euro in the near future, as Croatia has done, travel expert and StayNewEngland.com co-founder Michael Donovan said that when he visited Bulgaria in the early 2000s, non-Schengen borders created a complexity that deterred some independent travellers:
"After their expected accession, I think we will see more backpackers and Eurotrip style tourism, especially among younger Europeans. This demographic has rapidly grown local economies elsewhere post-Schengen. Romania in particular is already experiencing a renaissance as a cultural and outdoor adventure centre. The lifting of border controls could put the unique Black Sea coastline and the Transylvanian region on the truly global stage. However, international visitors to both countries are predicting an initial increase of between 15 and 25 per cent, which will continue to grow over the years.''
While it is clear that Bulgaria and Romania's entry into the Schengen Area will boost tourism and boost their economies, there are growing concerns that overtourism, which is rife across Europe, could soon become a problem. Residents of popular tourist destinations such as Venice, Barcelona and Malaga are reacting to years of disrespectful behaviour by visitors. There are fears that in time a similar trend could emerge in Bulgaria and Romania.
