Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Lastest reports on the proposed Bansko Airport have been realeased today.

BULGARIA'S BANSKO CONSIDERS BUILDING AIRPORT

Two options for the construction of an airport in the Pirin mountain region are being discussed. Recently the mayor of Bansko, Aleksander Kravarov, said the winter resort needed an airport to serve charter flights and private aircraft. The future airport can be constructed at the Razlojka hollow or at a former military base near Gotse Delchev. This project could be postponed but the necessity for an airport is growing. Bansko municipality will be able to accommodate 15 000 tourists by 2010. Nearby smaller resorts are also developing fast, Kravarov said. A golf course is being constructed no more than 10 km from the resort. Work on Katarino cinema centre is also in progress, 24 Chassa reported. Because of the luxury hotels and high prices, the region is expecting that most visits will be from foreign tourists. At the same time, the closest airport is in Sofia. The distance to the resorts is 160 km and the road needs repairs. Investment in airport construction will total 30 million euro.

It's still a way off - but by no means dead in the water.

PP

Well the EU will throw money almost anything - but remember the roads are almost finished - there is one stretch between Simitli and Bansko that remains to be completed but contractors are working on it and the Lyulin highway from Sofia to Pernik is contracted (148 m euro) so that will be done in 2-3 years. It already takes only 2 hours of easy driving from Sofia, so with the new /renovated roads (plus the upgraded ring road in Sofia) I would guess that airport to hotel would end up being around the 2 hour mark. Perfectly reasonable.