An airport, new roads and archeological projects will turn Smolyan into a tourist pearl

Interview by Shtiliyana Chakarova with the Mayor of Smolyan, Dora Yankova, Standart Daily, 11th December 2006

An airport and new roads will attract investors, said the mayor Dora Yankova

- Mrs Yankova, what are the perspectives before Smolyan? Does the construction invasion of hotels in the Pamporovo resort, highlights higher standards for Smolyan itself?
- Our ambition is to transform Smolyan into attractive site for the small business. Thus we developed a project for modernization and development of industrial centre “North”. The headquarters of some of the biggest companies in the municipal are based there. However we need to modernize the road infrastructure and the other communications. We want to project other connections that will take the freight trucks straight from the factories to the republic road- from the exit of the town to Pamporovo. The contemporary industrial zone foresees a small civil airport, new opportunities for connections with the inner parts of the country.

-Will there be any opportunities for other companies to construct, production centres in the “North” zone? It is known that the terrains and parcels in town are more than scarce.
-This is one of the main goals - to create more opportunities for the small business. We will develop and modernize the “North” zone by regulating the land plots. We will create sites for industrial manufacture. The town has three main exits and the zone will be directly connected with them and the civil airport as well. We will create a modern economic centre, but we have to use all of the resources we have.

- How is the sport- tourism centre – “Perelik” developing? When is the actual start of the construction works expected?
- By the end of the year the contract with the investor and companies that won the competition with their projects for the centre will be signed. It will be unique and will give opportunities for all year round tourism with modern sport equipment and over 80 km ski slopes, golf courses and etc. The great advantage of this centre is the huge construction works will be avoided. It will protect the wild beauty of the nature and mountain and the tourist will receive first class conditions for sport and recreation.
The hotel base will be in Smolyan and the nearby situated centres Raykovski livadi and Smolyan lakes. Minimum 12 thousand beds are needed to welcome the tourists.

- One of the most sensitive questions for the Smolyan municipal is roads. Many of them are in a miserable condition and cannot accept the increasing traffic. How is the town going to handle this problem?
- The project for a cable car from Smolyan to Pamporovo will soon become reality. This idea exists from many years, but the project is very expensive and until the present moment it was just a dream. Serous investors are already studying the two concepts for the “cable road”. The tendencies are planning it to start together with the development of the resort base Raykovski livadi, which at the present moment is being constructed by small hotels, villas and mini complexes. The lift will considerably ease the traffic and will decide the problem with the parking in the resort. The equipment is estimated to cost 25 million euro.

-The countries with developed tourism earn a lot from their historical sightseeing. What is Smolyan municipal doing for the local historical monuments?
- My dream was to transform Smolyan the number one municipal in the tourism industry, and I am sure that this will soon be a fact. Very soon it will become the pearl of Bulgarian tourism. Just a few days ago we received finance for the “Momchilova fortress- myth and reality” project. The archeological excavations of the fortress of Momchil unak (hero) will turn into exclusive tourism attraction. This site with historical significance is just 15 km east of Smolyan. Light effects and lazar connections with the Kale will send tourists back to the medieval times and the legendary Momchil unak (hero).

- Are Smolyan producers and enterprisers ready for the entrance in the European Union?
- Yes we are proud to announce that Smolyan can introduce popular producers with European certificates. The best “Investor of the year”, a prize that we established in 2004 will be prized on this year’s Christmas ball. Two of the prizes are in the trade sphere and three of them will be given for the tourism business, which has constructed new and modern hotels in town. The investments are estimated to around 1 million to 2,5 million BGN. The newly opened companies are corresponding to all European standards and quality requirements.

Invest in the Pamporovo area
Check the Christmas Prices at Perelik Palace Apartment Complex!






  read more articles

• Print
• Ask for free advice