The detailed master plan of Tsarevo municipality, which envisions construction of new hotels with a total capacity of 58 000 beds set in Strandja natural park, was approved after the order of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Assen Gagaouzov was published in the State Gazette on August 29. The new master plan allows nearly 900 ha of the nature park to be built on, including the coastal zone, Bulgarian-language daily Dnevnik reported.

The discussions of the master plan provoked various protests from citizens and members of the environmental coalition To Sustain the Nature in Bulgaria earlier in August, when the new proposed amendments allowing the high construction density were approved by the Supreme Environmental Council within the Environment Ministry.

The environmental organisations were not informed that the master plan was approved, which prevented them to file an appeal against the decision. The association Parks in Bulgaria and other environmental organisations tried to contact the Environment Minister in July and August to request a meeting with him but without success, experts from Strandja nature park said, as quoted by Dnevnik.

Tsarevo detailed master plan approval was not done on a legal way because before the approval, the ownership of the lands within the plan had to be changed, Andrey Kovachev from Zelenite political party (Bulgarian Greens), said.

The plan also anticipates a golf course to be constructed near Varvara. Environmental experts recommended not to destroy the natural green vegetation and not to use pesticides in the park.