European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                East bloc tourism continued irom Page 13 Border is wide open now Lor citizens of Bolh German states. Americans must contend with paperwork and Long Waits they must obtain a visa from an Easl German embassy or consulate or present a visa entitlement certificate or travel voucher at a Border crossing All three May be obtained through travel agents or irom the official East German travel Bureau in East Berlin the waiting time is usually about six weeks in Berlin the opening of the Berlin waft Tor citizens of both Germany has not simplified matters for other nationalities Quot officially there has been no change for americans.1 said Janet Whiteside vice Consul at the american Mission in West Berlin. Americans Are required to enter East Berlin at one of the checkpoints on Fredric Strasse a either the Allied crossing checkpoint Charlie or the no Inch amp Wrasse station crossing upon entry they receive a one Day visitor s visa valid Only for East Berlin according to Cape Pete Pierce Media relations officer for the u s Berlin come americans with no connection id the military can enter East Berlin either Al checkpoint Charlie or Al the  station to Der Cross my military members do not have that Choice Quot our policy is that a Dod person is subject to crossing at checkpoint Charlie that is their Only crossing Point Quot Pierce said military personnel Are also prohibited from climbing on or damaging the Watt they Musl remain at least three Yards away violators Are subject to administrative or disciplinary action. Pierce said in practice however the situation is somewhat different during the tumultuous new years eve party at the Brandenburg Gate thousands of celebrants climbed on and Over the Wall people who were there say there was no ally Mph made to Stop them or Check i hair nationality the next morning an International Field crossed through the Gate in the All berm new year s any fun run Pierce said an exception to the policy was made for the run Quot a number of u 5 members were encouraged to participate in it by the Berlin command Quot he said Pierce said he knew of no plans to change the policy. The complicating Factor in Serin is the City s four Power status since 1he end of world War ii Berlin has officially been administered by the victorious Allied Powers the United Stales Britain. France and tha soviet Union the rules governing Berlin Quot Are nol rules that were negotiated Wilh lha East germans they were negotiated with the soviets Quot said an army official amen cans associated with the military who travel by car to Berlin from West Germany Muni use the officially prescribed berm Helmstedt Highway link. Those going by rail May Only use the u 5french or British military duty trams military personnel Are prohibited by u s military authorities irom combining trips to Berlin and East Germany for u s service members stationed in Europe an organized tour May be the easiest Way to have to the Easl tour  normally get visas for those booking at army and an Force travel Moices  to Ria l Lawkis at the Daims Adl West Germany Branch of scheduled airlines travel office overseas the booking generally must be made at least Lour  in Advance Quot among the East bloc trips Sato otters Are Tours to Prague. Budapest several cities in East Germany and Moscow and Leningrad Gisela Haugen head of the information Tours and travel office at Ramstein a said tour companies usually obtain a group visa travellers Havo to submit a visa application and a passport or a copy of a passport. Sll Mahuik tourist boat Ott Danube at Budapest passes the impressive hungarian parliament Complex completed in 1904. A theater Square in Dresden a including the court Church and the famous Semper opera in the right background a was devastated along with the rest of the City by Anglo american bombing raids in february 1945, and Baa been lovingly restored. Visitors to the International helicopter Transfer from that a a International Quot hotels in Fht phenomenal travel maj new York times stars and stripes As americans Start planning their summer vac aligns. Travel agents in Tho United slates Are predicting Thal Easl Berlin will be one of Hie season s hot destinations since travel restrictions Between East and Wesl Germany were eased last year crowds of tourists have visited the City they reached record breaking numbers overflowing hotel rooms during the new year s Holiday when thousands poured it a to lost Tho new decade at the crumbling Wall a two came because history was bang Mode arid we wanted to be Iho  to see  Ca d Leda Benaroya of Englewood n j. Who made an Impromptu now year s vis i to the Wall  her husband and Chirion Alicr vacation no in Paris  of More educational for i to kids than  world Quot tour operators and  no officials say they believe hrs is just Iho beg no Raj As common d governments throughout Tho Reg on have corns unrated american trave sri arc snapping up package hours and a in no  for bed in  in Hungary. To Anco. Czechoslovakia East Germany and buy Jana the interest is ust phenomenal Bolh from travel agent. And Consumers Quot Caid Jhavoni Chandramouli. Marketing manager Ler general Tours inc m now York which org Ambos package hours of Eastern Europe and has added several new ones this year Bill Kochenderfer. Assistant Genera manager for scheduled airlines travel offices overseas sad his company has Atso noted an increased demand Lor East bloc have Sato 13 the u s. Army s travel contractor in West Germany a a lot More people Are interested in going but u s not any easier Tor americans one problem Kochenderfer said is that Quot the same old constraints thai have been on the military con Mue he cited Tho requirements for travel clearances and briefings Kochenderfer said tour companies working with Sato would probably be adding More Doles to their East bloc hours in the coming months he said Sato would also Likely be offering More Tours to the soviet Union Quot beyond Moscow and Leningrad Quot they would slam in summer. Increased bookings by Lour operators have already Cut the number of hotel rooms available for Independent travellers m the Cummer. Bei Ween mid August and mid september it is impossible to get bookings in some countries said Francis Goran n. Who Heads Vega International travel service a Chicago Agency that specializes in Eastern Europe the user and Hungary Are extremely popular though space in available if you go with a group Burnul i travel to Eastern Europe has already increased sharply particularly to Hungary and Poland pan am reported a 25 percent passenger increase  autumn Over the previous autumn largely because of business travel. And at Iho end of the year czechoslovak airlines which for years has coined americans to Prague on soviet made 11g2 planes will Swilch to the larger Airbus 310 on trans Atlantic flights Only Romania still isolated and Albania Are or re lot m in 1� to i u i to is or it at cd or Page 14 a a a stars and stripes wednesday a amp