Editorial

We have lost the plot; totally and utterly. Despite watching the country evolve and the travel industry boom (as opposed to blossom) for the past 18 years and despite never assuming that one should follow logic – we have still lost the plot.

What event or situation inspires us to think we are indeed clueless both in the workings of the country and indeed of the Bulgarian Tourism industry? St. George’s Day or May 6th is the answer. This year St. George’s Day was made into a long 4 day long weekend. The perfect opportunity for people to take a short break away from work whilst at the same time enjoys un-seasonal warm weather. The populations of Europe have been doing much the same for decades when they to have such an opportunity. From past experience Bulgarians have headed en masse from the capital for the Greek border or to Ochrid or wherever and Sofia becomes a ghost city. Sofia again on this occasion did resemble a ghost city, as too did some other places that perhaps were less expected to resemble ghost towns. Bansko being the point in question.

The town (lets be pc and call it a town) has boomed over the past five years and currently, in our tongue in cheek opinion, is Europe’s largest ski resort. Supposedly there are 35,000 beds in the pipeline and a fair chunk of these are already operable- 22,000 roughly. Throw in the neighbouring areas of Dobrinishte, Razlog and Banya plus the Pirin Golf course and the numbers become infinite.

In France, Austria and Switzerland winter ski resorts are a multi functional year round hive of activity; weekends are always busy and holiday weekends are even busier. Enter Bansko and this is where we lose the plot!

The town’s slogan is ‘resort for all seasons’ yet the reality is that there is actually very little to do expect walk and maybe bring a bike and bike ride (although there are no official tracks or routes as far as we know). Shops and restaurants are closed and the town is indeed the perfect ghost town. French resorts by comparison have a wealth of activities in and around them and do aim to bring in tourism and thus generate revenue for the community ‘year round’. Bansko and by relation, Borovets seems unable to have the ability, desire or knowledge to do so.

How can investors, be they big or small, invest in a resort like Bansko that operates 15 weeks a year when it cannot get its act together to bring in local tourists on long national holiday weekends? The chance to exploit tourism opportunities throughout the year are few and far between. When they do arise, like last weekend, the resort infrastructures should be bursting at the seems with visitors, that they are not, makes a rather pointed statement about many aspects of what is wrong with the local tourism product and their way of thinking…….if indeed they do think.      

Mark Thomas

Managing Director

HRG Bulgaria