More Ski Slopes in Pamporovo
and Plans for Year-Round Tourism

Pamporovo continues to evolve and seek its place among Bulgaria’s leading mountain resorts. After years in which the topic of over-construction was predominant, today the focus falls on expanding ski slopes in Pamporovo, improving connections between zones, and promoting sustainable development. The latest proposals for changes to the general development plan aim to make the resort more accessible, more connected, and to create conditions for year-round tourism in Pamporovo – not only during winter but throughout the entire year.

• The changes to the General Development Plan aim to connect the two resorts – Pamporovo and Mechi Chal – with new ski slopes;
• According to the project, beds in the resort will be increased by only about 400;
• Plans for year-round tourism in Pamporovo.

Positioned among the hills of the Rhodopes, Pamporovo has the lowest-situated ski slopes and lifts of the three major winter resorts in Bulgaria, together with Borovets and Bansko. And despite increasingly warmer and shorter winters, Smolyan and Chepelare municipalities look ahead with the ambition to expand the ski slopes in Pamporovo and improve its infrastructure. This is precisely what is laid out in the amendment to the general development plan (GDP) of Pamporovo, proposed by the two municipalities, between which the resort is divided.

At the beginning of September, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) announced that the amendment does not require an environmental assessment, which provoked a reaction among environmentalists. According to the ministry’s reasoning, however, the new zones for ski slopes and hotels affect only 0.001% of the periphery of the “Natura 2000” protected zone.

The main goal of the amendment, according to Sofia Tsankova, member of the board of directors of “Pamporovo” AD, is the creation of more ski slopes in Pamporovo through which the two resorts – Pamporovo and Mechi Chal – will be connected.

Currently, the resort consists of several cores – “Pamporovo” in Chepelare municipality, and “Snezhanka”, “Studenets”, “Yazovira” and “Ardashla/Malina” in Smolyan municipality. That is why the amendment to the general development plan of Pamporovo is driven by both municipalities.

The main goal – to connect ski zone “Pamporovo” and ski zone “Mechi Chal” – should happen by establishing another core in the first resort, called “Kavgaliya”, with an area of about 11 hectares. New cable lines “Kavgaliya – Snezhanka” and “Mechi Chal – Kavgaliya” are planned to be built, as well as “Yazovira”. And the lines “Malina – Studenets” and “Malina – Snezhanka Peak” will be renovated.

“With the new ski slopes in Pamporovo, the connection with Mechi Chal, and the establishment of a new zone with lift facilities, the entire capacity will be expanded and conditions can be created for the sustainability of the resort and the region,” Tsankova believes.

The creation of more ski slopes in Pamporovo with a total length of 8.8 km is planned. They should accommodate about 1,500 skiers. Currently, the resort has a total of 37 km of ski slopes, which ranks it third after Bansko with 70 km and Borovets with 58 km.

“We know how little snow falls in the cities. We see that there is an increasingly limited amount of precipitation. The season can start on December 10 if we’re lucky. Without serious investments in snowmaking systems, there are actually no guarantees at all that there will be a season,” Tsankova comments.

For the construction of such systems, it is planned to use a water reservoir in the Kavgaliya area, where water is collected from the runoff of streams. “There is nothing polluting. Water that is natural, without chemicals, without any impurities, is simply returned back to the slopes and thus prolonged snowcovering of the zone is ensured,” Tsankova adds.

In addition, reconstruction of the existing wastewater treatment plant and the construction of a new one towards the village of Stoykite and one towards the village of Progled, which is, however, outside the boundaries of Pamporovo, are planned.

According to the draft general development plan, beds will be increased by only about 400 for the entire Pamporovo complex.

According to a decision by the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov, the amendment is not likely to have a negative impact on natural habitats, populations and habitats of species subject to protection in the “Western Rhodopes” zone.

The draft amendment to the plan dates back to 2020, with the process being delayed to correct outdated elements from the old GDP from 2006 that were never implemented.

Part of the planned changes also affect infrastructure projects in Smolyan municipality – among them an idea for a small airport with a 2,200 m runway, as well as the construction of a third lane on some sections of the Asenovgrad – Smolyan road.

The expansion of road connections is vital for the development of the region, as Smolyan region still does not have a highway or first-class road.

Among other projects in the plan are rehabilitation of the Shiroka Laka – Solishta road, design of a Solishta – Stikăl connection, as well as construction of a sports and tourist center “Perelik”, development of ski centers “Kartola”, “Gela” and “Kaynodina”, a tunnel from Dunevski Livadi area to Pamporovo, and an outdoor pool in the “Ustovo” neighborhood.

The current development plan of Smolyan municipality has a horizon until 2037, with some of the facilities being more of a vision for the future rather than specific projects with a defined timeline.

“All our efforts at the moment are directed towards crating conditions for year-round tourism in Pamporovo,” says Tsankova. This summer, a 360 m long zipline opened in the resort, which passes over the “Snezhanka” dam and is part of the “Yazovira” adventure park. These new summer activities in Pamporovo aim to attract more visitors during the warmer months.

For the coming summers, the construction of climbing walls and the renovation of the rope garden are planned. And Velopark “Pamporovo” is already an established attraction, offering exciting things to do in Pamporovo beyond the winter season.

In addition to extreme sports and Pamporovo summer activities, the resort also emphasizes health tourism. “Everyone already knows the climatic features of the region and that Pamporovo was not initially known as a winter resort, but rather as a resort of national importance for pulmonary prevention,” Tsankova explains.

According to Tsankova, since Pamporovo is located in a mid-mountain zone, even a walk is enough to have a good effect on the human body. This is due to the negative ionization of the air, which helps prevent various diseases and reduce stress. Thus, the resort can focus on climatotherapy as one of the unique things to do in Pamporovo.

The search for new and sustainable ways of development is a logical and far-sighted move in the context of a changing climate. Snow is no longer a given, and warm winters are becoming the norm – a challenge to be met by diversifying offerings for year-round tourism in Pamporovo.

Source: Capital
For more up-to-date information, go to Pamporovo.me

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo | All Season Active

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination

Pamporovo – Ski Resort and Year-Rond Destination