Bansko ski season
The number of tourists to visit Bulgaria’s winter resort of Bansko this season could reach one million people, Novinar newspaper reported. Should predictions prove true, there would be an increase of tourists of up to 25 per cent in comparison with the figures for the previous season. Most foreign visitors to Bansko are expected to arrive from the UK, Russia and Bulgaria’s neighbouring countries. An increase in the number of German visitors is also expected. This season, the resort will be able to accommodate more tourists as a result of the increased number of functioning hotels. In comparison with the previous year, it can accommodate twice as many tourists, or 15 000 people.

Snowless problems
As a result of the snowless situation that has befallen many European ski resorts, an article in The Observer reported that should the situation remain unchanged, tourists could be transferred from one resort to another. For example, tourists who had booked a stay in Italy could be moved to Bulgaria, the newspaper said. According to meteorological forecasts, climate changes will lead to a 30 per cent decrease in snowfall by 2050. More than 60 famous resorts will be forced to stop functioning because of these changes, the report said.

In reality
Despite the large-scale construction in Pamporovo, the number of beds will not change substantially as compared to last year. The reason is that most of the newly built hotels will start functioning in autumn 2007. In the 2005/06 winter season, Pamporovo was visited by 135 000 tourists. This year, expectations are for a 20 per cent increase. The biggest inflow is expected around Christmas.

Ski police
Ski instructors will act as ski police on Pamporovo’s ski runs. The ski officers will keep an eye out for reckless skiers and snowmobiles, which were banned last year. “We decided to use the ski instructors as opposed to police officers because ski instructors are the best-trained skiers in every resort,” Luybomir Sankiiski, head of Pamporovo’s ski school told journalists on December 14. “Ski instructors speak at least two foreign languages and can react immediately to every emergency situation.” After the ski officers locate and catch the skier-perpetrators, the offenders will be handed over to security guards in charge of keeping the peace in Pamporovo. Measures will be taken against adults trying to use the lifts with childrens’ ski passes. A total of 150 newly trained ski instructors were appointed in Pamporovo on December 15.

New ski lifts
So far, Borovets appears to be the winter resort that has fewest newly constructed sites, even thought at least five new hotels will open there in the winter season 2006/07. About 20 permits have been issued, said Samokov municipality, under whose jurisdiction Borovets falls. Currently there are 4000 beds, with the number expected to double. For the coming winter season, concessioner Borosport invested 12 million leva in ski equipment.