Bulgaria is the Black Sea behind the looking-glass of Russia. According to connoisseurs of recreation, the most common epithet that occurs when discussing holidays in this country is at home. Indeed, even the time difference with Bulgaria is not significant: only minus one hour with Moscow.
Bulgaria is not abroad
The well-known chicken sentence does not go from the lips of citizens who remember trips to this country since the Soviet era. Indeed, at a time when there was no free travel abroad of your native country, trips to Bulgaria were an affordable form of foreign recreation. The difference between Moscow and Bulgaria was not so striking in terms of living standards. But if the traveler lived in the middle lane, then a six-hour flight opened up a whole new world for him. And the time difference with Bulgaria did not play any role.
Common Roots, Common Problems
In the seventies and until the nineties of the last century, the difference in the economies of Russia and Bulgaria was significant. For those who thought of going abroad as a pipe dream, there was a different time difference. In this country, an awareness of a completely different way of life was opening up. She herself was associated with the export of products - compotes, canned goods and products of the Bulgarian production "Pazardzhik", this is preserved in the memory of our compatriots. Those who personally did not succeed in visiting this fertile country.
Bulgaria, whose population was comparable in number to the population of Moscow, had developed infrastructure at that time and its own production. Specializing in food supplies, countries had virtually a single economic space. The method of state management of the economy was characteristic of Bulgaria.
The collapse of the Union and new economic relations
After the collapse of the Union, socio-economic transformations took place in all neighboring states and in countries with a common economic policy. Centrifugal forces forced to restructure all processes of interethnic interaction. The same thing happened in relations with the Balkan country. The only thing that has remained unchanged is the time difference with Bulgaria.
Nevertheless, the proximity of territories, the common roots of Slavic culture, traditions and foundations of life will always unite the two countries with such numerous common victories and defeats. And now we can observe the interpenetration of two cultures with a common past. It is expressed in social, economic, cultural cooperation.
Tourism is a priority in economic relations
Bulgaria is actively developing the tourism industry. Thanks to tourism, there is a significant influx of finance into the country's economy. Even in the high season, prices are reasonably acceptable for relaxing against other European resorts. For example, a flight cost only 60 euros for a charter flight in September from any resort on the Bulgaria-Moscow route. The time difference of one hour makes rest sometimes more affordable and more profitable than in your own country of residence, since time for a flight significantly increases the time for rest.
Tours on the sea in high season cost a tourist an average of fifteen thousand rubles, excluding the cost of a visa, per week of stay. Muscovites allow themselves weekend trips to elderly parents. Because more and more often it is pensioners who choose a country for permanent residence.
Social tourism for seniors
Bulgaria provides pensioners with the most favorable living conditions. The status of a pensioner allows you to arrange a long stay in the country without much effort. A mild climate with a therapeutic effect, good nutrition, a comfortable environment - all these benefits are provided to pensioners by Bulgaria. Moscow, the time difference with which is not a problem for a quick flight, is always available for visiting and meeting with relatives. Therefore, pensioners do not feel the discomfort of separation from loved ones and often practice staying at sea as a “suburban” vacation option. There is also no need for adaptation to the climate, and the time difference with Bulgaria does not affect the state of the body. The choice of permanent residence in Bulgaria is also connected with the nostalgia of the age population for the Soviet period.
Real estate investment
A separate place is the topic of investment in Bulgarian real estate. If earlier the share of European emigrants and Russian was in relation to 80/20, then in the last decade the numbers have changed places. Increasingly, the developers themselves are Russian entrepreneurs.
Entire resort complexes are increasingly growing due to investments of Russian capital, for which Bulgaria has created a favorable climate. Time, the difference with Moscow in the level of well-being proves this fact, has developed the economies of countries in different directions. If Russia went the difficult way of searching for its development option, then Bulgaria reoriented the economy from production to the entertainment industry.
Unfortunately, due to economic problems , more and more often young Bulgarians choose Old Europe and the American continent as their place of residence. In recent years, the indigenous population has declined to 7 million people, and there is a real threat to the country's gene pool.
The difference in the choice of the development path and the consequences of this choice are becoming more noticeable, this time difference is increasingly manifesting itself. Russia, Bulgaria - these countries are united not only by the past. The instinct of self-preservation will surely bring Slavic peoples closer and open up new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation.