Bansko Mountain Resort invests nearly 8 Million Euro in Infrastructure

Bulgaria’s biggest and most modern mountain resort of Bansko plans to invest 15 million leva (around 7.7 million euro) in infrastructure this year, according to the municipality’s updated plan.

By the end of 2009, the funds will cover the completion of the road between the resort town and the Vihren mountain cabin, as well as the infrastructure of the new parts of the resort – Gramadeto and Asanitsa, the town’s mayor Alexander Kravarov told the Bulgarian newspaper Dnevnik.

“At these places there aren’t even sidewalks yet and that is why we are making this issue a priority, ” Kravarov noted, adding that the resort’s streets will also be fully paved.

According to the publication, the Bansko municipality also plans to construct a 3.2-kilometre summer biathlon run in the area of Banderishka Polyana – the starting point of many of the lifts to the slopes. “Our aim is in 2010 to host the Summer Biathlon World Championship, ” Kravarov commented. This would be the second large sports meet at the resort, after the Alpine Ski World Cup in Bansko for women takes place there between February 28 and March 1 of this year.

According to representatives of the hotel industry in the resort, at the moment Bansko is filled with tourists, with guests from the UK and Russia being the most numerous. It is expected that this year’s season will be better than last, Kravarov commented.