News

   It was a sunny mid April Saturday morning when we headed to Troyan. The spring has already arrived in Bulgaria and trees and flowers were proudly showing their blossom garment.

  The blue sky and the shimmering sun beams were cheerfully playing on the front window of the car.

  There we were – me and my company full of energy, eager to dive in the beauty of the awakened nature. That is why we choose Troyan- one of the most beautiful and hospital Bulgarian towns right in the heart of the Balkan Mountain range.

  The trip went fast as Troyan is just 180 kilometres away from Sofia and half the way goes along the highway. We barely could share a word during the whole journey, as the nature was so fascinating, that left us stunned and speechless.

  The marvelous green grass, those trees thick with leaves and the beautiful spring flowers that variegated the whole land, brought a sweet scent in the air, which literary enchants every traveller. It definitely makes you feel free, alive and above all proud to be residents of this unique country Bulgaria.

  Analogue of the big project “Super Borovets” is under development by the businessman Hristo Kovachky. It will be situated in Mala Tsurkva, Govedartsy and Maljovitsa. General construction plan of the area is now being prepared, and is about to be completed by the end of May.

  Joint company “Nadar 2006” was created last year for the purpose of the new project. 50% of the shares are owned by Samokov municipal and the remaining shares belong to “El-El Impex”, whose sole owner is Hristo Kovachky.

  The plan is to create 5 tourism centres, which will be able to service 8-10 thousand tourists, explained from “Nadar 2006”.

  The so-called resort-and-tourist location will comprise three zones, where 50-70 km of ski slopes will be constructed.

  After the plan is accepted, the total amount of the investment will also become clear. The investment will be times bigger than that for the project in “Boriko” location. 23 million BGN were planned for “Boriko” project.

  The municipality owns 25% of the company which will develop the “Boriko” location. The municipality will preserve this share irrespective of the amount of the investment. The construction of a winter stadium, and a two-seats lift with capacity to transport 1000 visitors per hour. There will be 3 ski slopes for beginners as well as an artificial snow installation. The project will also bring about the improvement of the entire infrastructure.
  Two ski slopes, named Sitnyakovo 5 and Sitnyakovo 6 will be constructed in the Martinovi baraki site. The slopes are due to become ready by the end of the year.

The supply of vacation property in Bulgarian winter resorts increased nearly four times within the past 18 months, Colliers International market research showed. From June 2006 to December 2006 vacation property offering increased by 50 per cent and the current number of offered properties is nearly 18 000, Bulgarian National Radio reported. Nearly two thirds of the vacation property for sale can be found in Bansko. High property prices in the resort are expected to influence the supply, which will possibly move to Borovets and Pamporovo, research showed.

  The mayor of Smolyan and the investor Kiril Asenov signed the contract for the realization of Sports-and-Tourist Center “Perelik”. The team is already working on the project. After we obtain the construction permits and once we are synchronized with the municipality, we could start the first stage by the end of April this year, or in the beginning of May at the latest, said engineer Kiril Asenov.

  Since the project is very dynamic, the investments for the implementation will most likely exceed the estimated 200 million euro, predicts Kiril Asenov. The project will be realized through 5 project companies with the joint participation of the Municipality and the Investor. The Municipality will participate in the companies mainly with bringing in the ownership right and other real rights over the properties falling into the scope of the project. The Municipality will participate in the capital with 5 to 25% plus 1 share.

  The purpose of the first company will be the construction and exploitation of the infrastructure of Sports-and-Tourist Center “Perelik”. The management of the real properties included in the territory of the project to be performed by the second project company. The third company will be in charge of the construction and exploitation of a golf playground on the territory of the project as well as on neighboring properties. The fourth company will take care of the general development of the project, while the fifth will be responsible for the acquisition and management of real properties owned by the municipality and located on the project’s territory.

   Bulgaria is bracing itself for a 10% rise in foreign tourists during 2007 as a total of 5.6 million are expected to visit. Joining the EU increases the visibility of a country as a tourist destination. In fact, even while Romania prepared for EU entry in December, the positive effects were apparent as tourism was up 20% whilst Bulgaria boosted tourism in 2006, earning the record breaking amount of nearly €1billion.

  This has even prompted directline-holidays.co.uk to hire travel consultants with unique knowledge of Eastern Europe in order to deal with specific Balkans holiday enquiries. The increase, according to directline-holidays Sales Manager Alex Pilkington, points to a bright future for tourism in the Balkans. “Eastern Europe tourism in general, particularly in the Balkans, has been gaining popularity – and represents great value-for-money when compared to its western European counterparts”.

  Preliminary contracts of main tour operators in Pamporovo winter resort for the season 2007-2008 showed that the number of tourists increase by 20 to 30 per cent as compared to figures for season 2006-2007. Almost all tourism agencies applied for more places next season, hotel-owners organisation Pamporovo 21 Century said as quoted by Bulgarian news agency BTA.

   The negotiations between the strategic investors of the “Perelik” sport & tourism centre have now ended, announced the mayor of Smolyan Dora Yankova. According to her, the project contract between the municipality and the future investor of the complex is about to be discussed with the municipal council. When the contract is approved, the counselors will discuss the proposed establishment contract for the infrastructure of the “Perelik” Sport & Tourism Centre.

  The work on project Super Borovets will continue. National Movement Simeon II leader Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha met with Samokov’s mayor Angel Ivanov, former district governor of Sofia – region and current NMSII MP Olimpi Katev and Glavbulgarstroy Construction Company manager Simeon Pashov, a journalist of FOCUS News Agency reported.

  Several of the members of the Initiative Committee on Super Borovets Project have spoken with NMSII leader yesterday in his office. They informed him on the progress of the project and on the fact that it was time to consider juridical finalization of the documents, which would allow the placing of ski lifts. The ski lifts are planned to pass through the land property, given back to former Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He gave his permission some time ago but the documentations was still to be finalized.

  “Mr. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was interested in the progress of the project and we informed him”, Samokov’s mayor Angel Nikolov stated for FOCUS News Agency.

   Chepelare is the new hit for the Bulgarian ski lovers. The resort in the Rodope mountain offer the cheapest lift passes, nice pistes, and cosy hotels with a total number of 1500 beds. The season in Chepelare opens tomorrow. The most expensive double room in the resort costs 50 BGN. The average price per bed is 15 BGN. The prices of the food in the restaurants during the high season will be the same as the prices in an average restaurant in Sofia and Smolyan for example.
  The prices of the lift passes will be from 20- 25 BGN, announced Madankov, a head of the local association of hoteliers and restaurateurs in the town.
  The capacity of the lift is 700 people per hour and the 1200 meters long drug lift has a capacity of 400 people per hour.

   The off-piste snow conditions in Bansko offered excellent "rideable" terrain for this year's Wild Ride 2006 contest.

  The event, traditionally held in Basnko, gives the riders a unique opportunity to access the amazing Pirin Mountain Freeride area.

  Wild Ride 2006 is supported by BEFSA (Bulgarian Extreme and Freeskiing Association).

  The Telemark World Champion and Red Bull rider Robby Brackenhofer from Germany took on the duties of Head Judge on the performances of 60 skiers and snowboarders.

  The event has stirred great interest among riders and spectators, as well as among international and local media. "Powder" and "Skiing" magazines have already published big articles about Bulgaria, Bansko and the freeriding scene. "Poachers", an European freeride mag, issued a cover from Bansko.

  The National Big Mountain Championship is a part of The Mad Goat Ride 2006 - Free Spirit Week.