PROPOSALS that two Bulgarian ski resorts and the country's three largest coastal resorts become separate municipalities have met with political opposition from all sides.
The Minister of Economy, Lydia Shuleva, had suggested that the Black Sea resorts of Slanchev Briag, Zlatni Pyassatsi and Albena as well as the ski resorts of Pamporovo and Borovets should be granted municipal status, thus becoming financially independent.
The proposal was backed by the mayors of the five towns and the tourism industry, who are pushing for more independence in a bid to foster their investment programmes.
After a meeting with the mayor of Nessebar, Nikolay Trifonov, on August 23 President Georgi Purvanov said that he was not in favour of the move. Nessebar is currently the local authority responsible for the Slanchev Briag resort.
Purvanov described the move as indefensible and said it would be better if the resorts remained under the current municipal structure.
The Association of Local Governments said that the tourist resorts should be restructured as independent units within the existing municipal districts but should not have a separate budget. Some local government authorities are concerned that they would lose a large amount of revenue if separated from the resorts.
In response to this opposition, Shuleva said that the resorts might become special administrative units under local government authority. However, the mayors of the relevant municipal authorities - Nessebar, Varna, Balchik, Chepelare and Samokov - opposed the idea, fearing they would lose the right to collect local taxes.
A working group, consisting of representatives of hotelier's associations and the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, will prepare a proposal for the government of the resorts. This will aim to maintain the balance between corporate and civic interests.
Regional Development Minister Valentin Tserovski, said that another working group, based at the regional Development Ministry, will also draft an analysis of the situation, to be discussed by the Government.
Whatever changes result from these documents will be implemented in 2004.
Shuleva said that, if the resorts were established as independent authorities, the owners of tourism complexes in each were willing to pay for street cleaning, public order, infrastructure development and the advertisement of the resorts. The tourism industry was not satisfied with the administration of the resorts, currently the responsibility of the municipalities, she said.
The Minister of Economy, Lydia Shuleva, had suggested that the Black Sea resorts of Slanchev Briag, Zlatni Pyassatsi and Albena as well as the ski resorts of Pamporovo and Borovets should be granted municipal status, thus becoming financially independent.
The proposal was backed by the mayors of the five towns and the tourism industry, who are pushing for more independence in a bid to foster their investment programmes.
After a meeting with the mayor of Nessebar, Nikolay Trifonov, on August 23 President Georgi Purvanov said that he was not in favour of the move. Nessebar is currently the local authority responsible for the Slanchev Briag resort.
Purvanov described the move as indefensible and said it would be better if the resorts remained under the current municipal structure.
The Association of Local Governments said that the tourist resorts should be restructured as independent units within the existing municipal districts but should not have a separate budget. Some local government authorities are concerned that they would lose a large amount of revenue if separated from the resorts.
In response to this opposition, Shuleva said that the resorts might become special administrative units under local government authority. However, the mayors of the relevant municipal authorities - Nessebar, Varna, Balchik, Chepelare and Samokov - opposed the idea, fearing they would lose the right to collect local taxes.
A working group, consisting of representatives of hotelier's associations and the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, will prepare a proposal for the government of the resorts. This will aim to maintain the balance between corporate and civic interests.
Regional Development Minister Valentin Tserovski, said that another working group, based at the regional Development Ministry, will also draft an analysis of the situation, to be discussed by the Government.
Whatever changes result from these documents will be implemented in 2004.
Shuleva said that, if the resorts were established as independent authorities, the owners of tourism complexes in each were willing to pay for street cleaning, public order, infrastructure development and the advertisement of the resorts. The tourism industry was not satisfied with the administration of the resorts, currently the responsibility of the municipalities, she said.
