Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Looking back on 20 years of Pamporovo there have of course been many changes since my first visit back in 1990.

Gone is the White Hart as we knew it, BJ's as we knew it, and the very basic culture of the resort as we knew it.
The very vunerability of the local people and their culture was to me a huge draw to this resort and I just loved the basic feeling of real friendship and sincerity that the local people had to offer.

It's easy to live in the past, (something I am often accused of doing) without realising how the resort is evolving and the changes that have come about.

More slopes, more snow cannons, more lifts, more hotels, and the general improvements that are ongoing in Pamporovo is something we have all experienced over the past few years.

However, Pamporovo can well be accused of losing it's way in retaining the year-on-year visitors that are so essential to the longevity of this resort.

We are currently in a maybe - maybe not scinario and I firmly believe that Pamporovo needs to offer more than it does at present to recapture the masses it used to attract back in the 90's.

The perminant use of Plovdiv airport is paramount to any future destiny of Pamporovo, and the current politics being shown by various travel companies who have a vested and financial interest in using just Sofia airport and their financial interest in holiday makers visiting Bansko and Borovets rather than Pamporovo is a major factor in the current demise and lack of footfall being experienced by Pamporovo.

People will simply not tolerate a transfer that is longer than their actual flight and the sooner the travel companies realize that - the better.

Add to that the lack of snow during Dec and Jan that Pamporovo (and other resorts) have experienced over the last few years, Pamporovo needs to up the anti and recapture the desire to visit this once most favourite resort to so many people.

I am hoping for a great season this year - but I do fear for my beloved resort that has been sadly left behind thanks to bad management of the resort and the selfish greed of travel companies that have a vested interest elsewhere.

It's not yet unrepairable - but it does need to be addessed now in order to make this resort a big favourite once again. Ignore it now and it will disappear forever!

Pete.

Hi Pete,

The "selfish greed of travel companies " is not to blame. They all still offer the resort of Pamporovo.

The biggest problem has been:

1) The local ripping off the tourist
2) The ski instructots ripping off the tourists
3) Terrible snow for the last few years

The numbers for Pamprovo reduced dramatically long before the travel companies started flying only to Sofia.

Pete, you are car sales man I believe. If you had invested millions of Euro in your business, would you have a poster in your window tempting customers to your competitors down the road??

Bulgaria Pete

The rumour that Pamporovo will close as an international tourist resort within the next 5 years maybe has some credibility...
The poor snow record, even the higher than average temps not allowing what snow cannons are there to run, maybe has had a greater effect on the sustainability of an international resort. Investment can dramatically effect a resort, but poor weather conditions im afraid are in the laps of the gods, and recent years have seen Pamps suffer...
Ryan air this season are flying into Plovdiv, budget prices, and on Pamps doorstep, but if there is poor snow ??? Time will tell...

It is not just Pamporovo that suffered from the lack of (early) snow last season. The conditions were similar to that of Borovets as per Kas post:

" .... but March / April are normally best for skiing overall, or have been for the last few years. Saying that, 2 seasons ago, the snow was brilliant at xmas / new year, but then there was nothing in january. Last season (09/10) there was nothing at xmas / new year, 1 good week mid-january and then nothing much until the end of Feb....."

Living near the Pamporovo resort in February and March this year we had some absolutely fantastic snow, ski and piste conditions with cannons working most days.

As most people are aware all ski resorts are in the lap of the Snow Gods and Bulgaria is no exception. Years ago February used to be the only wet month in California. Now they have similar weather patterns to Europe.

Hopefully, Steve C's post re: the rumour will not have the outcome it suggests. It is a very worrying prospect for those people who have purchased property in Pamporovo (my daughters included) and other resorts.

But, apart from the weather conditions which are out of everyone's control, are we to believe that the many large companies/conglomerates who have money invested in Pamporovo will sit back and do nothing to protect their investment?? Marketed properly Pamporovo could possibly be an all-year-round mountains/sea holiday resort with open borders and easy access to the Aegean sea and Greek Islands.

And as for the problem of tourist being ripped off- head in the sand time? - we shall see ....

As i said Andie, just a rumour... time will tell.
The lack of investment and forward thinking has effected all resorts in BG, there seems to be this need to have immediate income from any investment, and thoughts of `trying something new' seem to be nowhere... promotion as well seems to be a dirty word, especially if it involves money, but all resorts and the activities available require this... The number of times we hear `i didn't realise that was available', saddening, especially if trying to build the summer business whose potential is massive...
The glimmer of hope is what has happened in Boro this summer, a mtb park, of a high standard (National comps this weekend) that has been well attended.. Borosport invested and others im assuming to develop the park, and by the looks of it employed riders in their own time to maintain the course and improve it. Fantastic facility, busy with riders of all standards, the last weekend when we were there the bars at the base of the Rila black were as busy as the winter, the grass littered with bikes and gear. Sadly they are closing this weekend after the comp, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
This has prompted us now to approach Ulen with a proposal for the opening of a bike park here in Bansko. The initial contact was a flat `NO', but on investigation of what has been happening in Boro we now have a chance to speak to the director personally in the middle of next month. We are preparing a presentation with our ideas, Borovets as an example, and other Alpine resorts who base their whole summer itinerary around mountain biking...
We will keep all informed as to any developments on this forum and our own http://bansko-mtb.com/forum/

Well aren't you all just a bundle of joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm really disappointed in you Pete and others - People are just starting to look for 2010/11 ski and snowboard holidays and all you can do is destroy tourism before it starts for this season even starts!!!!

Why oh why do you feel there is a need to start pulling up negative crap that is just not really there. I am a realist and know there are as many issues in Pamps as there are in Nottingham but to talk in assumptions is poor!

Snow Conditions - i have had 1 bad week in 5 years of going to Pamps, visting 2 to 3 times a year! Choose your week carefully.

Tourists - i take "The boys" each year to Pamps for a big weekender - Hardened, well travelled skiers that do nothing but rave about the snow conditions (we have had), friendliness of the resort and people they meet, every day i bump into them!!! Choose your weeks and your drinking / eating holes!!!!

Transfers - Fly to Sofia and drive up there yourself - i can do it comfortably in 2 and 3/4 hours - Never had a problem in five years apart from last Feb when going back it took me 7 hours due to......... You guessed it TOO MUCH SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the most fun we have ever had at 3:00 in the morning.

Investment - Governments and Large Companies would not spend the money they have already on Pamps to let it go to pieces - I have invested too yes and will be a little bias but my God i'm a half glass full kinda guy - Why can't other people be the same - Chillax people and be happy!!!!!!!!!!!

Nuff said - but i am sad this has started already!!!!!!!!

PSP

Powderseekingphil - I agree, hence my post. Negative comments about any resort are bad news.

Anyway I still believe that Pamporovo, in all her glory, is and always will be a fantastic ski resort and a wonderful place for holidays for all the family

Plenty of and with lots of and lots and lots of

Andie

PS. Pete - I hope to get over to see you and Angie this year. Last year there was soooooo much snow I couldn't get the car out of the garage

Pamporovo is still a great resort and hopefully the snow will continue to fall! The local people still make it a great place although some of the business people are ripping off the tourists. This is what is turning people away from Pamporovo.
Over the last 2-3 years many of my friends have gone to other resorts (France, Austria etc). It was not the bus journey from Sofia that was the problem, even though we always flew to Plovdiv, it wasn't the poor snow conditions over the last few years. It was the rip off prices that were being charged in the resort. Lunches (Pizza 18lev, 500ml bottle of coke 6.50 lev). The prices are more expensive than some top resorts in Europe. The price of taxis from the base of the mountain to the hub of the resort are 20-25 lev. Bring back the days of the good old Lada cars that charged 5 lev!
If Pamporovo is to survive, prices must be capped, tourists need to be looked after, flights need to be in and out of Plovdiv (although not the end of the world if they're not), medical facilities on mountain and resort MUST improve (facilities are antiquated) and resort needs to introduce Ski Patrol to monitor safety on mountain and remove lift passes from crazy skiers.
On a positive note the Pamporovo Ski Instructors are the best in the world! Looking forward already to heading out early 2011.