The village of Gorna Arda in the Smolyan region expects to develop rural tourism after the opening of the Paranesti-Gorna Arda road.

The tourism road to Greece received approval from Smolyan municipal councilors. Previously Smolyan mayor Dora Yankova requested from Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin the execution of the infrastructure project, Focus news agency reported.

Arda mayor Emil Bashev said that the price of plots in the region increased nearly 16 times over the past year.

As a part of the tourism development plan the village was to feature 11 guest houses that can accommodate 120 tourists. The construction of three family-type hotels will begin in March.

A company from Plovdiv purchased municipal property, where it planned to construct eight houses in traditional Bulgarian style, Focus reported.

Another major investor was a Greek, who purchased  three houses in the village. The purchaser planned to turn the houses into a family-type hotel.