site.btaPamporovo Ski Season Opens Strongly Despite Weather Challenges, Ski Resort Welcomes More Romanian, British, Irish Tourists

The ski season in the winter resort of Pamporovo, Southern Bulgaria, got off to a good start despite difficulties caused by a lack of natural snowfall and unusually high temperatures in December, which delayed the timely production of artificial snow, Stefan Prisadov, Executive Director of Pamporovo AD, told BTA in an interview on Tuesday.

The ski zone officially opened on December 28, with six groomed slopes currently available to skiers and snowboarders. Additional key runs are expected to open gradually in the coming days. According to Prisadov, early booking data and reservations point to a very good winter season.

Resort management reports an increase in visitors from Romania, the UK and Ireland. Nevertheless, Bulgarian tourists continue to make up the core of Pamporovo’s visitors, as the resort traditionally positions itself as a preferred destination for family holidays.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, the slopes and hotels are mainly occupied by holiday groups. Visitor numbers from neighbouring Balkan markets, particularly Greece and Turkiye, also remain strong.

This year’s opening of the ski season was later than usual. With only minimal snowfall recorded in the past week, ski zone teams made considerable efforts to prepare five runs for the opening on December 28, Prisadov said. "Most of the slope snow coverage has been ensured through the resort’s artificial snowmaking system, which covers around 95% of the ski area," he added.

According to Prisadov, climate change is among the most serious challenges facing ski resorts, due to the lack of consistent winter conditions and sufficient natural snowfall. He stated that investment in modern snowmaking systems remains the key solution. "The company hopes that low temperatures will persist, so that the remaining runs can also be covered with artificially made snow," he added.

In the coming days, plans include opening the slope leading to the village of Stoykite, along with the six-seat chairlift serving it, as well as slope number 5.

As a family-friendly destination, Pamporovo is also popular for its excellent conditions for beginner skiers and snowboarders. The green run from Snezhanka Peak to the Malina Ski Centre is among the resort’s main advantages for beginners, as it provides ideal learning conditions, Prisadov added. He emphasized that children’s first experience with skiing should be positive and memorable, and Pamporovo is among the resorts that offer such conditions.