The Turkish Ministry of Trade announced that it is increasing the number of employees and introducing additional measures at the Kapıkule and Hamzabeyli border crossings on the border with Bulgaria, and at Ipsala and Pazarkule on the border with Greece in connection with the expected increased traffic due to the trips of Turkish guest workers who are returning to Turkey for their summer holidays, the Anadolu Agency reported, quoted by BTA.
An official statement from the Turkish ministry states that a large number of customs and police officers from within the country have been redirected to the border crossings with Greece and Bulgaria, with the number of crossing counters at the Kapıkule border crossing being increased from 12 to 24, and mobile teams of various banks are deployed on site to facilitate payments for travelers.
From The Turkish Ministry also emphasized that in the period from June 15 to September 15, citizens will be able to monitor the situation at the border crossings live on the website of the Regional Directorate for Customs and Foreign Trade.
Measures against the expected increased traffic between Bulgaria and Turkey during the summer season were discussed by state institutions from both sides at a working meeting yesterday. Statistics were presented at the meeting, according to which over four million passengers passed through the border crossings between Bulgaria and Turkey in both directions last year, and traffic is expected to remain intense this season.