Karl-Heinz Pfohe: Investments in Bulgaria Offer Good Return Rate

We present to you part of the interview Mr. Karl-heinz Pfohe – owner of the Moto Pfohe company, gave to the Wirtschaftsblatt monthly. In the interview Mr. Pfohe talks about the winter resort of Bansko and about its potential and about investing in one of the leading developments there – Belvedere Holiday Club.

Mr. Pfohe, how did you decide to come to Bulgaria and start a business here?

In 1988 I established some contacts which allowed me to start dealing with cars in Bulgaria. As soon as I arrived I saw the country’s future potential for a steady business.

Are you pleased with your business here?

In the last 20 years Moto-Pfohe developed really well. Today, with over 500 people personnel and a total of 17 branches and dealerships around the country, we are among the biggest car companies in Bulgaria and we continue to develop quite successfully.

Your employees are Bulgarian. Are you pleased with their work? Do you find it easy to work with them?

I am especially proud of my employees – motivated and devoted men and women who see to it that we provide the best possible services to our clients on a daily basis. This is supported by the questionnaires filled in by our clients. The satisfaction level is well above the average for Europe.

Could you tell us what impression Bansko makes on a German? What do you think of the resort, what effect does the mountain have on you? What would you say to your fellow-countrymen or to other Europeans who are interested in Bansko?

I find Bansko to be one of the best winter resorts and ski centers in Europe. The town’s administration managed to preserve the style and atmosphere of the town by controlling the issuing of construction permits for new residential units and hotels.

With its 65 km of ski slopes, state-of-the-art facilities and amenities Bansko is among the finest and best positioned European winter resorts.

What is the difference between Bulgaria’s ski resort of Bansko and the mountain resorts in Austria and Switzerland? Does Bansko have the necessary qualities to rival the globally recognized winter resorts?

The comparison is in favor of Bansko due to the fact that this Bulgarian ski resort offers new holiday homes and hotels which have been built in accordance with the latest fashion and standards. They are far more modern and comfortable compared to the somewhat aging buildings in Switzerland and Austria which were built decades ago. The same goes for the sports facilities, the quality of the lifts and the tow-lifts. However, above all Bansko offers the charm of the Bulgarian hospitality which is missing in the ski resorts in Austria and Switzerland. The years of dealing in tourism there has somewhat decreased the genuine pleasure of receiving guests as if receiving them in one’s home.

What is the advantage that you will point out to the potential buyer interested in the possibility of owning a unit in Belvedere Holiday Club? What were the ideas that you implemented during the design and construction stages of the development?

Belvedere Holiday Club offers numerous possibilities for sport and relaxation all year round. With its wonderful location in close proximity to the Gondola and to the mountain Belvedere Holiday Club is without doubt the best and most spectacular gated residential development in Bansko.

Do you think the purchasing of a holiday home in the development is a good investment and if so why?

In the long run the investment in a holiday home in Belvedere Holiday Club is an excellent move. Bansko will continue to develop and the possibilities for a good return rate from renting out the property will increase.

In Bulgaria we are in awe of the famous German quality of construction. Belvedere Holiday Club has been designed after your ideas and built by one of the leading development companies in the country – AT Engineering. Are you content with the construction process and can you guarantee the buyers that they are buying “German quality”?

My long business experience allowed me to take part in the construction of all kinds of motor works, residential developments, trade centers. It could be said that building is my hobby.

I dedicated a lot of my time to Belvedere Holiday Club. I frequently visited the site and controlled the construction process personally. I did it to make sure that each detail and aspect of the complex will be in line with the highest quality requirements – not only by today’s standards, but by those of tomorrow as well.

I am proud to say that Belvedere Holiday Club fully measures up to my requirements and goals.

Do you have any future investment plans in Bulgaria? And if yes which are those that are to be implemented in the nearest future?

Despite the so-called global financial crisis it is now that Bulgaria offers a great chance to the future investors namely due to the stable economic growth in the country. A number of countries including from Eastern Europe face problems and that is why the investments there decrease and the businessmen look for possibilities elsewhere. I am sure that Bulgaria could profit from that.

Belvedere Holiday Club


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