Resorts in Turkey have long been chosen by Russians for a carefree vacation. Almost every travel agency offers trips for every taste and budget to this holiday state. A favorable climate, a couple of hours of flight, Russian-speaking staff, excellent infrastructure, low prices and a visa-free regime - all this undoubtedly adds to Turkey's attractiveness in the eyes of Russian tourists. However, the Turkish fairy tale may end very soon.
The authorities of this hospitable country can restore the visa regime with Russia, which was canceled in 2011. Turkish newspapers have been vying about this recently. According to journalists, Ankara is forced to take such a step by the European Union, with which it has begun active negotiations on the abolition of the visa regime between Turkey and the countries of the Old World. In the event that such an agreement is reached, the Turks will have to use the so-called visa protocols, which are now adhered to by all EU states. In this regard, Ankara will have to introduce a visa regime with all countries that have the same regime with the Eurozone. Russia is also among these states.
As a result of negotiations between Brussels and Ankara, which took place at the end of June 2012, the Turkish authorities, with open optimism, announced to their citizens that in a couple of years they would be able to freely travel to the EU states without any visas. At the same time, the Turkish government does not exclude the acceleration of this process. Now Ankara is waiting for a "road map" from Brussels - a detailed list with tasks, having completed which, the Turks will have visa-free access to the EU countries.
However, many experts believe that Russians for at least five to ten years need not worry about this. Negotiations on the abolition of visa entry are a rather lengthy process. In addition, experts do not exclude that Europe will abolish visas for Russia even earlier than for Turkey. At the moment, an active dialogue is going on between Moscow and the European Union on this issue. Experts suggest that the Old World should make certain concessions to Moscow for the opening of the Sochi Olympics.
At the moment, Russians have the right to enter Turkish soil without a visa. Previously, a visa stamp was put on the passport at the border. Russian citizens are allowed to stay in Turkey for no more than 60 days without a visa. Every year more than two million Russians go on vacation to this hospitable state.
