Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Its all fine and well double pricing. It happens the world over always has, always will.

I think the major point that has been lost in translation, is the blatent nature that it occurs now in Bulgaria. I have noticed a vast sea change in the attitude of Bulgarians from my first vist up until my last visit. The only thing i can put it down too is greed.

The reality is that this greed culture, which has spirled from watching people like greedy english and europeans come into their country buy an apartment at say 20k euros a few years back to treble their money in about 2 years.

I know this is'nt the case now and a hell of a lot of these greedy investors have got stung or are in the process of getting a prolonged stinging, but all the same the poor local bulgarian is sitting back looking on, not being able to compete in the property market watching this. Its not a bit wonder they treat us as cash cows and try to milk the maximum they can from us.

However they dont realise that this short term success in satisfying their greed will have long term implications



Discuss ........

This is only a personal observation but i feel it comes down to a differant business ethic (if ethic is the right word). From what i have witnessed it seems that the average BG business will attempt to market whatever product they are selling for as much as the market will stand. While tourists still pay those prices they will continue. There is no consideration for what could be considered a reasonable mark up. Add to this the attitude of a lot of staff and the atmosphereless surroundings then you have a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately most cannot see further than today, and the stream of tourists in their mind will be never ending. Now i know this is a very sweeping observation and that there are some who are aware and market accordingly, but the vast majority follow what they know. If they feel their business is being threatened they will intimidate and cause inconvenience to the other business, accuse the other business of bribing travel companies to recommend guests, in fact anything apart from looking inwards into their own business.
Now whether this can be all down to greed, or just simply a differant way of running a business to what we are used to ?? i don't know... but what i do know is that times are going to get harder in the next couple of seasons, less tourists with less money, and those businesses that do not react will not survive. I will finish on a strange thing, a BG business whose turnover and profits were well below forecast reacted by putting their prices up ???? nows theres a good business move

Well done Micky, you are obviously an astute businessman, like many others who made their money and ran....
I wonder for the buyer of your last investment property if this was the case ?? Did you make the similar promises to them as many others did ?? I hope not for if you did it would make you as bad in thinking that all GB investors are as stupid, and in selling to them with your prior knowledge you would be misleading them ??
Or is it the case that you really don't care anyway ?? I think we have rounded back quite nicely to the thread..... Greed !

I don't thinks that greed is just a Bulgarian problem, I think its a problem throughout Eastern Europe. Eastern European countries are playing catch up but want to much to quickly, they want the money but they are not prepared to provide the services.
I enjoyed two good holidays in Bulgaria, but especialy on the second one I noticed that greed had taken over. This pushed my back to Austria this year where I probably paid slightly more for my holiday, but the service and quality was second to none.
I'm a great believer that people must learn from their own mistakes, I don't believe that the people that rip people off read this forum but they will get the message when numbers are down.
I hope Bulgaria does learn as it does have a place in the ski holiday market, probably more so for the social skier than the serious skier due to its lack of runs!!!. (Crash helmet on waiting for the flack).

Gogs

"I hope Bulgaria does learn as it does have a place in the ski holiday market, probably more so for the social skier than the serious skier due to its lack of runs!!!. (Crash helmet on waiting for the flack). "

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I think thats spot on. It was always a budget ski holiday to bulgaria that was ideal for people who wanted to try skiing at low cost and a a very basic level. Due to the level and standard of accomodation/ infrastructure many of the anomilies were overlooked. However with the soaring prices the necessary changes havent been reflected in a subsequent improvement .

The reality is that now for around the same price you can get a ski holiday to france , italy , austria etc. for significantly better conditions/accomodation/ infrastructure/slopes. Bulgaria was good while it lasted and some will still return, however many that have tasted Bukgaria will move on to newer pastures never to return.