Beginning next Monday and for the following two weeks, the Border Police, the Investment Agency and a group of travel operators will pilot an electronic communication channel aimed at facilitating crossing of the border for buses carrying tourists. It is then planned that the channel will be operated throughout the high season by all travel agencies organizing trips abroad.
Border Police chief Fredolin Lecari said the method involves travel agencies notifying the border authorities by email 24 hours prior to the bus arriving in the customs area. A border officer and a customs officer will be waiting for the bus, and a dedicated processing lane will be reserved if the crossing point gets crowded. As a result wait times will be reduced to under 30 minutes, says Lecari.
Investment Agency director Rodica Verbeniuc said the initiative is meant to improve the traveling experience of tourists. Mihai Ceban, the manager of a travel agency, praised the idea as it will cut the time spent by vacationers on the road.
According to Border Police statistics, in the summer season of 2018 over 12,000 buses with 270,000 passengers crossed the Leușeni port of entry alone, by 9% more than in the summer season of 2017.
