Grade B for Bulgarian Winter Resorts

What is the level of the most popular Bulgarian winter resorts in terms of organization, conditions and prices? What could persuade foreign tourists to choose Bansko or Borovets as favorite destinations or provoke them to wholly give them up?

The answers to these questions were given by 210 journalists from 32 countries, who participated in the 52nd World Ski Championship for Media Representatives, which was held in Bansko in February. All participants got detailed impressions of Bulgaria’s most modern ski resort. They also popped over to the Borovets resort for a day.

The guests’ schedule was carefully organized and they could see many beautiful sights and visit some remarkable places. On the last day the journalists were given survey forms and had to answer 39 questions, including a wide range of answers, from their impressions of the tour guide to the quality of the slalom and downhill skiing pistes.

The fabulous show at the opening of the event was graded A by 53% of the guests. The prize-giving ceremony and closing of the Championship in ‘Happy End’ night bar were highly appreciated. All participants unanimously pointed out that they didn’t have any problems during their stay in Bulgaria. 80% of the guests acquainted themselves with the whole ski zone in the resort. 82% got perfect impressions of the local people. 72% would gladly revisit the resort as tourists.

The journalists found the pistes in Bansko highly satisfactory. The extremely low temperatures of -23°C were not an obstacle and all skiers lined up at the start of the perfectly processed ‘Alberto Tomba’ ski run.

The organization of the Alpine skiing and downhill skiing competitions were graded B by 66% of the participants.

All guests liked the food. In the 4-star ‘Strajite’ hotel, where the quests resided, various international meals were cooked every day. For “The Evening of Nations” the people of Bansko cooked 30 delicious local meals. 55% found the food very good.

5-time World Cup winner Mark Girardelli arrived in Bansko especially for the event. He was accompanied by Italian ex-top skier and present-day sports clothes designer Giulliano Besson. The two stars answered all journalists’ questions and did a lot of skiing.


10 March 2006
24 Hours