site.btaTourism Ministry: Vitosha Mountain Will Have New Draft Management Plan by End of April

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh initiated the second meeting of the inter-ministerial working group on the sustainable development of mountain tourism in Bulgaria. The focus was on the Vitosha Mountain, the Tourism Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.  

"The mountain, which is a symbol of the capital and has a huge tourist potential, is a very important topic, and we are finally bringing together all interested and responsible parties to decide what the future of Vitosha is," Borshosh said at the opening of the meeting. In his words, the aim is to make a comprehensive analysis and to thoroughly discuss the possibilities of ensuring accessibility to the mountain without compromising its conservation.

Particular attention was paid to the need to update the already developed Vitosha Nature Park Management Plan, which according to all participants is a prerequisite for real action.

"We expect the draft of the Vitosha Management Plan to be proposed for discussion, because it is a key instrument that will provide a basis for the next important steps," Minister Borshosh stressed.

The competent institutions have confirmed that the plan is ready and will undergo inter-ministerial coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Environment and Water by the end of April. Following positive opinions, it will be published for public consultation.

Among the participants were representatives of the relevant ministries, the regional government, the Sofia Municipal Council, local authorities, NGOs, and investors. Topics covered included the current state of tourism infrastructure, the need for reconstruction of existing facilities and construction of new ones, possible legislative changes, and the coordination of each step with environmental norms.

In the meantime, the inter-ministerial working group has scheduled targeted meetings to look at the other mountains in Bulgaria.

At the end of March, an inter-ministerial working group was set up by order of Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh to analyze the key challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of mountain tourism in Bulgaria. The working group, chaired by Minister Borshosh, includes representatives of five ministries - Tourism, Regional Development and Public Works, Environment and Water, Agriculture and Food, Youth and Sport. Its aim is to draw up proposals for improving the regulatory framework, facilitating access to the Bulgarian mountains and the maintenance of tourist infrastructure - hiking and cycling trails, skiing and mountain biking routes, as well as their marking and securing.