site.btaSamokov Mayor Calls for More Active Promotion of Borovets Resort Ahead of 130th Anniversary Celebrations

Samokov Mayor Angel Dzhorgov said efforts were under way to raise the profile of Borovets as the resort opened its winter season on Saturday. Speaking to BTA, Dzhorgov said the opening day features children's activities, prize draws and demonstrations, and serves as a prelude to celebrations marking the resort's 130th anniversary in 2026. 

A series of initiatives will highlight the evolution of this country's oldest winter resort from the historic Chamkoria to a modern, dynamic destination. The anniversary will run under the motto: "130 years of Borovets. Legendary past. Boundless future".

Dzhorgov said infrastructure improvements have been made in the past two years, including new pavements, and noted that a mayoral representative has been appointed in the resort to assist tourists, hoteliers and business operators whenever needed.

According to Dzhorgov, a rich cultural programme is helping attract more visitors. Plans for next year include expanding the main car park at the entrance to Borovets and building a new pedestrian link from the old centre to the ski slopes, acknowledging that parking remains a challenge for winter resorts. Road maintenance equipment is in place, and ski patrols will monitor for intoxicated skiers. 

The mayor said tourist safety has been ensured, noting that as a rule, most foreign visitors come from the UK. Additional police officers, including Romanian patrols, will be deployed. Romania is the top source of tourists from neighbouring countries. 

Dzhorgov said Bulgaria's entry in the euro area on January 1, 2026 is likely to boost tourism, including from Greece, and could attract businesses from Romania. Accommodation for the holiday period is almost fully booked, though some card payment disruptions may occur on New Year's Eve.

The mayor of Samokov described Borovets as having a highly positive impact on the local economy, with many residents employed in tourism. The number of visitors grows each year, making Samokov and Borovets increasingly popular with tourists. Borovets benefits from being just an hour from the capital, and can be considered a year-round destination, Dzhorgov said.

Background

Borovets, the oldest mountain resort in Bulgaria and the Balkans, has its highest ski point at 2,560 m. The resort is located in the Musala section of the Eastern Rila mountains at an altitude of 1,230-1,390 m, 73 km from Sofia and 10 km from Samokov.

Its history dates back to 1896, when Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria built a summer residence and several hunting lodges in the area, then known as Chamkoria. Later on, many aristocrats and wealthy families from Sofia also built summer villas there. The resort was renamed Borovets in 1942, a translation of the Turkish name Camkoru (pine forest), and was declared a national resort in 1948.

The ski area offers more than 50 km of pistes of varying difficulty, grouped into three zones: Sitnyakovo, Markudzhik and Yastrebets.

Borovets has hosted rounds of the Alpine Ski World Cup and other major sporting events. The first downhill race took place in 1930, and the resort appeared on the International Ski Federation (FIS) alpine calendar for the first time in 1974.