Friday, April 5, 2024
Romania & Bulgaria edge closer to Schengen, lifting air/sea border checks. A big step for EU integration, boosting local economies & travel ease.
ACI EUROPE and the European Travel Commission are celebrating a significant milestone with Romania and Bulgaria moving closer to becoming part of the Schengen Area. This initial step has removed checks at air and sea borders, paving the way for greater unity and deeper ties within Europe.
This historic achievement is expected to enhance community bonds and further European unity.
Olivier Jankovec, the Director General of ACI EUROPE, commented: “Integration into Schengen is essential for the cohesion of European air travel, offering passengers a more fluid journey and operational efficiency with quicker transit times and reduced formalities.
Making travel easier for EU citizens in Romania and Bulgaria marks a significant progress for the continent.
It’s about enhancing unity and promoting equality through the essential freedom of movement.
This progress will yield beneficial economic and social impacts for both the local regions and the broader economy.”
Eduardo Santander, ETC Executive Director said: “Welcoming Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Zone by air and sea is key in facilitating seamless travel for locals and tourists alike.
This offers a stellar opportunity to develop tourism in these two lesser-known destinations, which will benefit local communities and businesses as well as the wider European tourism ecosystem.
We hope that this marks the beginning of a swift journey towards full accession, and that land borders will be lifted soon.”
A pivotal advancement for air and sea transportation in South-Eastern Europe, enhancing societal unity and easing travel among Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen countries.
Advantages for Citizens
The Schengen Zone, eliminating the need for passports among its 27 members, including 23 EU nations, stands as one of the EU’s key achievements, symbolizing European unity. It simplifies travel within the zone, leading to fewer delays and reduced bureaucratic procedures.
This ease of movement is vital for the significance of travel within Europe for airports and tourist destinations.
Incorporating Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area for air and sea travel significantly enhances access to these nations.
This equalizes opportunities for travel and tourism, allowing for unrestricted movement between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen countries without the need for passport or customs controls.
Stimulating Local Markets
The integration of airports and air travel will be crucial in fostering closer relationships between these new Schengen members and the broader community.
With Bulgaria and Romania showing a lower tendency to fly compared to the EU average, there’s substantial room for growth in air travel.
Both nations have led the industry’s recovery post-COVID-19, showing strong growth rates surpassing pre-pandemic levels (as of January 2024 compared to January 2019: EU -3%, Bulgaria +7%, Romania +4.3%).
Entering the Schengen Area will further enhance this upward trajectory, contributing to the recovery of air travel across the EU.
David Ciceo, President of the Romanian Airport Association and member of the ACI EUROPE Board, remarked: “For the remaining months of 2024 alone, Romanian airports anticipate over 14 million passengers will travel within the Schengen Zone, accounting for about 70% of total passenger traffic.
With the continued growth of air transport in our region, we expect nearly 21 million passengers by 2025.”
Monday, April 29, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
