07 novembre 2007
BULGARIA’S WINTER RESORT ATTRACTIONS TO UNDERGO CONSUMER PROTECTION INSPECTION
Bulgaria's Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) launches an intensive inspection of restaurants, bars, hotels, entertainment places and tour operators in Bulgaria's winter resorts, CPC announced.
The inspections were launched because of the upcoming winter season and December holidays, investor.bg said.
CPC’s inspectors will check whether hotels have a star-rating and if services offered meet rating requirements. Restaurants' menu prices and the weights of meals offered will be examined.
The inspectors will looks for dual pricing where different price lists are used for Bulgarians and foreigners.
Tour operators' registration, professional insurance, registration of complaints, contracts with clients and advertisement offers will be checked.
In summer season 2007, CPC issued 465 fines for violations after 1711 checks of tourist attractions at the coastal resorts, investor.bg said. CPC closed 52 tourist attractions.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/bulgarias-winter-resort-attractions-to-undergo-consumer-protection-inspection/id_25969/catid_66
NEW HOTELS AND BIATHLON MARK BULGARIA’S CHEPELARE RESORT SEASON OPENING
Bulgaria's Chepelare winter resort in the Rhodopi Mountain will open the new winter season with four new hotels with 300 beds and a vacation village of 10 houses.
Subi Madankov, head of the hotel and restaurant owners union in Smolyan, said that with the new lodgings, Chepelare would be able to host 1600 tourists at a time.
In winter season 2007/2008, in Chepelare two centres for biathlon with ski runs of one, two and three km, would be opened, Focus news agency reported.
One of the centres was in the town, while the other was on the Mechi Chal peak.
The snowboard park in the town will be made longer.
According to Madankov, no ‘drastic’ raise in the price of the ski lift tickets was to be expected. Currently, the lift and the facilities were being examined.
Some 90 per cent of the ski runs were ready, Madankov said. With the new tracks, Chepelare had 22 km of alpine ski runs and 20 km of ski and biathlon tracks.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/new-hotels-and-biathlon-mark-bulgarias-chepelare-resort-season-opening/id_25984/catid_67
03 novembre 2007
Five Bulgarian Firms Participate at Russian Ski & Board Expo
Five Bulgarian companies take part at the International Tourism Expo Ski & Board Salon ‘2007.
The event started yesterday and will continue till tomorrow, November 3 in Moscow, State Agency of Tourism (SAT) informed.
Bulgaria’s participation is based on the fact that Bulgaria has confirmed as Russian tourism destination, which offers high-quality of services in the ski resorts and attractive prices.
The unique tourism expo demonstrates latest achievements and novelties on the tourism and sport market.
Last year in the salon participated more than 260 firms, sport clubs and federations, winter resorts and tourism organizations from Russia and many European countries.
It was visited by 20,000 people, 30% of them were tourism firms and agencies.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1073409986
01 novembre 2007
Construction and consequences in Bulgaria
Separeva Banya mayor Sasho Ivanov will be fined because he did not inform the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water Affairs (RIEW) that the repair of the road between Panichishte and Pionerska hut had started or about the construction of a ski lift in this area of Rila Mountain. Both projects are a part of the Super Panichishte project, which would see the construction of lifts and 21 ski runs over 1.8 sq km in the protected area of the mountain, as reported by The Sofia Echo on August 31.
Following a series of protests in Rila, and warning from citizens and environmentalists sent to the Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs (MOEW) because of the illegal construction work in Rila, Environmental Minister Djevdet Chakurov ordered an investigation of the activities. It found that a permit had not been issued for the construction of the lift and no concession had been granted for the use of state property. However,the chief architect of the local municipality had not taken these facts into consideration and had issued construction permits.
Currently, the Panichishte resort can accommodate about 2500 tourists, Dnevnik daily reported. Offshore company Rila Sport AD (RS) has planned a new resort, which would supposedly stretch over two-thirds of the National Park, including Panichishte, the Seven Rila Lakes and Kabul peak. The company planned to develop about 80km of ski runs and construct about 100 hotels, with a bed capacity of between 5000 and 15 000. However, RS had not yet received a construction permit from RIEW.
The first spontaneous civil protest against the plans to cover Rila with concrete occurred in Sofia on August 29. About 150 young environmentalists gathered at the crossing of Rakovski and Racho Dimchev streets, behind Sofia City Library. The people covered the zebra crossing with boxes and paper miniatures of hotels forming a wall, which presented the concrete construction planned for the parks and waited for the police to “demolish, for the first time, illegal constructions in Bulgaria”. The police however did not remove the miniature buildings and traffic on Rakovski Street was blocked for about an hour between 7.30 and 8.30pm. Stoyan Beshkov, from the Bulgarian Science Academy, was arrested during the protests and taken to the regional police office.
Traffic in Rakovski Street was allowed through after the environmentalists moved the miniature constructions themselves and took them to the MOEW building, at nearby 67 William Gladstone Street, blocking its entrance. Ognyan Kovachev, from the Bulgarian Green Party, told The Sofia Echo the protesters stayed there for about 15 minutes once the police arrived. “Everyone left at 9.30pm but the buildings stayed,” Kovachev said.
The second of the series actions, which had been promised by environmentalists in protest against the destruction of Bulgarian nature, took place on September 4 at Vassil Levski monument roundabout in Sofia. About 200 people gathered and slowly crossed the road, causing traffic jams that lasted about an hour. They carried posters that read “For clean and holy Bulgarian nature”, “Save Shabla” and “Bulgaria is not for single use”. The people who were protesting also gave flowers and sweets to the drivers waiting in their cars. However, two of the environmentalists were arrested because they did not follow police orders and, as the one of them – Tsveta Hristova – claimed, the other one was later beaten up in the police station.
After the two environmentalists were arrested, some of the protesters moved to in front of the fifth police office in Sofia, where they had been taken, Focus news agency reported. The two activists were released around noon.
At the September 4 protest, the environmentalists issued further demands, this time connected to the Iralki region, which is where the Stara Planina (Old Mountain) meets the Black Sea coast. The protesters wanted a stop on all construction along the Black sea coast, and especially at Iralki, until a complete environmental impact assessment had been prepared for the whole Black sea coastline – mostly about the protected areas and Natura 2000 zones. They also insisted on stricter control by MOEW on the environmental assessment issue, as well as on a transparent and public procedure for all investment proposals and initiatives. The people also demanded obligatory reporting of the cumulative effect, of all projects in an area, in the environmental assessment report.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/construction-and-consequences-in-bulgaria/id_24771/catid_5
26 octobre 2007
Development threatens Bulgarian national park
News brought to you by International Animal Rescue, saving animals from suffering around the world.
Bulgaria's Rila National Park is under threat from developers who want to turn part of the area into a new ski resort, environmental groups have warned.
The construction of a new ski lift and road is already underway near the national park, which is located in the south-west of the country.
It is now feared that plans to expand the local Super Panichishte ski zone will see building inside the park, despite rules supposedly preventing development.
To try to stop the work, a coalition of local wildlife groups have organised a series of protests in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia.
Rila National Park covers surrounding the Rila mountain range. It is home to a number of rare and endangered species, including bear, wild boar, red deer and several types of eagle.
It is included in two of the European Union's Natura 2000 network of specially protected areas.
Help IAR save animals from suffering around the world.
FOREIGN MINISTRY MULLS SIMPLIFIED VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR SCHENGEN VISA HOLDERS
Pending the drop in tourist numbers from countries such as Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry is mulling a simplified visa regime for non-EU citizens with no ban for entry to the country.
Restriction waiver for non-EU citizens with a valid Schengen visa is also in the making. From November 1 2007, all foreign citizens with a valid Schengen visa for a period of one year or more would be able to get a Bulgarian entry visa automatically without special authorisation from the Sofia visa centre.
Namely, the plan tackles increasing tourism numbers from neighbouring countries and Russia and entails visa issue with no coordination with the visa centre in Sofia, Bulgaria's Deputy Economy Minister Milen Keremedchiev told Wednesday representatives of the Union of Investors in Tourism in Bulgaria.
At present, the simplified regime is valid only for the summer season. Plans are to waive restrictions whatsoever in a bid to promote Bulgaria as a year-round tourism destination.
The meeting comes days after the State Tourism Agency (STA) announced that the number of tourists coming from Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia has decreased by 72-73 per cent on average in the first nine months of the year.
The goal of the Wednesday meeting was to discuss difficulties stemming from the visa regime with Russia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.
25 octobre 2007
Italians on Dental Tourism in Bulgaria
Foreigners are visiting Bulgaria for dental tourism more and more often.
Their visitings are especially planned only for meets with local dental specialists. Two Bulgarian stomatologists tell that in their clinic were inscribing mostly Italians and Greeks.
The ‘tourists' take a hotel room for a couple of days, go to a dentist and leave after that.
The dental services come out five time cheaper than in their country. In return the foreigners receive good quality.
According to the information that the Italians have, in Bulgaria people can get the most modern materials and the best work in whole Europe.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_460864373
The official start of the super Borovets Project was marked on 8th October 2007
New opportunities for the appearance of Bulgaria on the international tourism market
“We are among the dreamers of this project” – these words echoed from the mouths of elderly people proudly standing on the festive scene, raised specially for the ground breaking ceremony of the Super Borovets project. The ceremony took place on 8th October 2007 in the Pashenitsa site, in close vicinity to Samokov. The celebrations were accompanied by light rain, which let the organizers believe that the project will be “in smooth waters”. The mayor of Samokov Municipal, Mr. Angel Nikolov hosted the event. Mr. Sergey Stanishev- Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, the leader of NDSV, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha, Mr. Asen Gagauzov- minister of the regional development, Mr. Georgie Krumov, executive director of the company Rila – Samokov 2004; varit Murbak Said Al Harusi, executive director of the national fund of Oman, prof. Stoyan Denchev, Members of the Parliament and etc. were official guests of the event.
The Prime Minister Mr. Sergey Stanishev, Mr. Asen Gagauziv, Simeon Peshov, varit Mubarak Said Al Harusi and the Mayor of Samokov pointed out the economy favours, which are expected with the realization of the project “Super Borovets” on local and national level. The fact that the construction works will be fully conformable with the environment and that all measurements for the preservation of the biological diversity of Rila Mountain are considered, was emphasized.
“The remarkable thing is that the project starts with the construction of a new cabin lift, not new hotels and residential buildings”, pointed out the Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev. He also noted that according to the project, more than 500 million Euro will be invested during the next 5 years and 2000 new working places will be opened in the resort. The prime minister also said that the start of the Super Borovets Project will accelerate the construction of a south transport arc, which will connect Samokov with Trakia highway.
The ceremony was blessed according to an Old Bulgarian ritual and Mr Assen Gagauzov marked the ground breaking ceremony, followed by Angel Nikolov and the investors Mr. Georgie Krumov and Simeon Peshov, also representatives of the National Fund of Oman and Equest Investments Balkans Ltd. After the ceremony, ensemble Pirin performed a concert.
Super Borovets is among the most strategic projects in Bulgaria. The concept of the resort is made under the principals for constant development and excellent financial return of the average and long term investments. The project was announces as a National priority, as it is expected to be part of the appearance of Bulgaria on the European tourism market. It is a key step in the overcoming of the one side image of the country as a destination for summer tourism.
The success of the Super Borovets project is found on the support of the local authorities, which has provided careful planning of the region and coordination with the European ecology standards and strategies for development. The architectural outlook of the resort will be conformed with the rich historical and cultural heritage of Samokov city, as well as with the outlook of a classical alpine resort.
The main goal of Super Borovets is to offer diverse tourism attractions for the development of all year round tourism complex with five star hotels, modern equipment, information centre and good transport infrastructure. The strategy of the resort plans low density of construction and numerous sites for sport activities. The golf courses, the tennis courts, basketball and football fields will attract tourists even during the summer. It will be also situated in close vicinity to the National Park Rila and will provide opportunities for new alternative forms of tourism.
Special attention will be turned on the cultural tourism. Thus Super Borovets will be able to offer tourism product and properties without competition on the eastern European market and the region will improve its popularity in Europe and will win recognition as a destination with a great correlation of quality and price. This means that the country will be able to welcome more solvent tourists.
The investors of the project, that participate in the company Rila – Samokov 2004, are as follows: Borovets investments JSC with 67% shares, including Equest Investments Balkans Ltd, and the Governmental Fund of the Sultan Oman; Samokov Municipal (with 25%) and Glavbulgarstroy (8%).
The execution of Super Borovets is divided in two major stages, and is planned to be complete within the period 2007 – 2012. The total land which will be used for the construction of the residential buildings is 623 500 square metres, including the 4 and 5 star hotel complexes. 40 km new ski slopes will be constructed. The terrains of Super Borovets are situated mainly in four regions – Borovets (1100 m above the sea level), Banderata (1460m), Gvardeiska Polyana (1620m) and the Bylata Polyana (the White Meadow 1310m). The project possesses all necessary permissions for the start of the first phase.
http://www.visitbulgaria.net/en/borovets/press-releases/20071023/start_of_super_borovets.html
PAMPOROVO RESORT IN BULGARIA TO OPEN SEASON WITH NEW SKI RUNS
Pamporovo mountain resort will open the new summer season with two new ski runs and a new lift.
The runs will slope down from Snejanka to the village of Stoikite. The new lift will start from the centre of the village to Studenets chalet.
Testing of the facilities began on October 1 2007, the resort manager Pamporovo AD said. All main parts of the lifts were being replaced.
The ski runs were cleaned and re-cultivated, Focus news agency reported.
Artificial snow system will be widened by two km and 11 new snow machines will be installed. Thus the number of the snow machines will reach 16.
Pamporovo AD said that the prices would be clarified by the end of October 2007.
08 septembre 2007
Bulgarian Mountaineer Teams Rescue 18 Tourists
Bulgaria's mountain rescue service have found a group of 18 tourists in the Troyan region in central Bulgaria after several hours of searching.
The group, hailing from Varna on Bulgaria's Black Sea, had left their mountain lodge and had not reached their destination when the search was called.
Although the tourists did not contact the mountaineers, the teams were dispatched due to the worsening weather conditions, which can cause landslides.
This week's cold snap has brought the first snowfalls in Bulgarian mountains with up to 15 centimeters of snow recorded in the Stara Planina mountains, where the tourists are.
All 18 were found to be in reasonably good condition and will be escorted to the closest mountain lodge.