HOTEL CONSTRUCTION IN BULGARIA ENDANGERS NATURE- WWF

09:41 Tue 27 Feb 2007

Over-construction in Bulgaria’s resorts endangers the country’s nature reserves.

Investors were rushing to build hotels and resorts worth millions of euro in Bulgaria’s coastal area and in the mountains, environmental group World Wide Fund (WWF) said as quoted by Reuters news agency.

“Rampant corruption and weak public administration” enabled over-construction, threatening a number of rare and endangered bird and plant species.

In February 2007 Bulgaria approved a list of areas to be included in the European environmental network Natura 2000. The areas total one fifth of the country’s territory.

The list of areas provoked criticism from local businesses and municipalities, fearing they might lose tourism revenue and investment opportunities.

Ecologists protest saying that many areas which should be protected were excluded from the network.

Bulgaria had to “rein in construction” to protect its nature as it had “some of the most precious nature zones in Europe,” WWF said in a letter to local authorities.

Comments

Comments by Dianne - 11:20 27 Feb 2007
	I run a travel agency in the Uk specialising in Eastern Europe. I have sent out a questionaire to 3000 people who visited the black sea, Borovets and Bansko. Here are the results: 5% Will come back, no choice, as they have property here 5% Said they would think about it, but not necessarily come back 10% said they would return 80% said it was their first visit but will not come back Reasons for not coming back. 1: Prices are now such that it is not a cheap European holiday 2: Over Construction ruining Bulgaria 3: To crowded 4: Lack of amenities 5: Dirty This is what is known as Killing the Goose that lays the golden egg. Without a proper co-ordinated tourism and construction plan Bulgaria is going to be a victim of its own success (and greed)