Turkey has lowered the prices of some basic necessities, which has lured dozens of Bulgarians shopping in Edirne. Since April it has been reduced from 18 to 8 percent VAT on shampoos, soaps, disinfectants, wet wipes, toilet paper, napkins, diapers. Some of the clothes and shoe stores have announced seasonal discounts of up to 50%, it is written TrafficNews.
Long queues formed at the border crossings with Turkey during the first weekend of the month. Markets, shops and pharmacies in Edirne were advertised mainly in Bulgarian.
“The truth is that prices are much higher than last year. However, we continue to come once every 2-3 months.
We combine the market with a walk. And we definitely eat my favorite kunefe – in one of the confectioneries in the center they make it very tasty “, shares Tsveta Dimova from Plovdiv.
The woman’s observations are confirmed by official statistics. In March, the prices of goods in Turkey rose by a record 61.14 percent compared to the same month last year. In February, the country’s inflation was 54 percent, and according to experts, the inflation rate for the whole of 2022 will be over 50 percent. The war in Ukraine, which has led to rising energy prices, is also contributing to the problems.
However, the exchange rate is still quite favorable for Bulgarians. This week, one Turkish lira sells for 0.13 stotinki. This provoked the Bulgarians to plunder the shelves. In the area around the Blue Market, Margie Outlet and the Migros supermarket, which is traditionally among the most visited by Bulgarians, dozens of cars with Plovdiv registration could be seen.
Bags and carts were full of detergents, toilet paper and pasta. 10 kg of popular brands of washing powder costs between 90 and 130 pounds, 4 liters of liquid detergent can be found between 50 and 60 pounds. A package of pasta is only 5 pounds, a kilo of rice – 18 pounds, a kilo of lentils – 30 pounds. Between 40 and 50 pounds costs a kilo of olives, so does baklava.
Even the traditional for Bulgaria dairy products are sought after by our people. “I think they are of better quality and cheaper than in our country,” admits Dimova.
Fruits, vegetables and nuts are also available in Edirne. Currently, strawberries are sold for 30 pounds per kilo, tomatoes – 20 pounds, cucumbers – 15-20 pounds. Raw almonds, hazelnuts, cashews cost 150 pounds per kilogram. Lemons, oranges, carrots, leeks and lettuce are twice as cheap as in Bulgaria.
Fuels are also 20 to 40 stotinki down from domestic gas stations.
Bahri Dinar, chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Edirne Development and Protection of the Local Delicacy “Fried Liver”, summed up that thanks to Bulgarians and Greeks, trade in the city is booming because they not only shop but also stay. in hotels, visit restaurants, bars.
“We’re very satisfied. We, for our part, do our best to keep them happy and come again. The service staff in many of the restaurants and shops know Bulgarian, the menus are written in Turkish, Bulgarian and Greek, “said Dinar.
According to him, in the coming weeks more tourists from Bulgaria are expected to spend the Easter holidays in the city, where there are two Bulgarian churches.
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