Tourism Minister: 2026 Is Turning Point for Bulgarian Mountain Tourism

Dimitrina Solakova, Ekaterina Toteva

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh speaking at the BG TOURISM – WINTER 2025/2026 forum, Pamporovo, Southern Bulgaria, December 6, 2025 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Pamporovo, Southern Bulgaria,

06.12.2025 12:50

(BTA)

Speaking at a tourism forum here on Saturday, Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh described 2026 as a turning point for Bulgarian mountain tourism. Borshosh noted that the Ministry's goal this year was to develop strategies for how mountain tourism could be practiced year-round.

The forum, titled BG TOURISM – WINTER 2025/2026, is organized by BTA in partnership with the Municipality of Chepelare, the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), and the resort of Pamporovo. The event is part of BTA's initiative to host forums twice a year – at the beginning of the summer and winter tourist seasons – to discuss the messages for the presentation of tourism in Bulgaria during the upcoming season with representatives of state and municipal institutions, the tourism business, non-governmental organizations, scientists, and experts.

Borshosh recalled that as soon as his team took office, a working group was set up with the participation of local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and state institutions for the development of mountain tourism. He pointed out that Bulgaria would like to compare itself to countries such as Italy, France, Austria, and Switzerland. "None of these countries has less than 5,000 kilometers of ski slopes. The Bulgarian State, the Bulgarian mountains, and the Bulgarian municipalities do not even have 200. You can see the scale of the difference," commented the Minister. The picture is similar with the number of facilities that are part of the infrastructure that makes the mountains accessible. "At present, Bulgarian mountains are so limited in terms of access that the entire flow is taken up by cars and buses. This makes Bulgarian mountains completely inaccessible and, in general, hinders the development of the mountains as a four-season destination," he argued.

Another problem, according to Borshosh, is related to climate change. "If we do not diversify the reasons for accessing the mountains at the moment, if we reduce them only to ski tourism, if we do not develop what the more advanced destinations than ours in terms of accessibility are starting to do - bicycles, mountain tourism related to cycling and everything else, in a few years Bulgarian tourism in the field of mountain tourism will not be competitive," the Minister said. This will be the case, according to him, firstly because Bulgaria will be dependent on climate change, and secondly because Bulgaria will not offer the accessibility required to offer other types of tourism besides ski tourism.

The debate on accessibility, the debate on what you do in the mountains, how you do it, why there are new slopes, why there are new lifts, why there are new ski lifts, is a debate that will take place in the media, but also in similar forums, Minister Borshosh said. He pointed out that the issue of developing accessibility to mountain tourism will be discussed in Parliament as early as January, noting that legislative proposals on the subject have already been prepared. "Soon, the representatives of the people will have to make a decision, and I hope that a majority will be reached which, with great care for the mountains, nature, and the environment, but at the same time with an understanding of the importance of this sector for local authorities, will do everything necessary to ensure that the current lifts can be repaired," said Borshosh, recalling the problems of Vitosha Mountain.

He noted the additional benefits of the new slopes as a means of protection against forest fires and pointed out that the places where water is collected for artificial snow are the best way to extinguish fires. "There are many advantages, but for me the biggest one is the answer to one of the most difficult questions facing the country – the demographic crisis," said Minister Borshosh. "Demographics must guide us, because when you create accessibility, you create jobs. You create additional employment, additional interest in these areas, and tourism is one of the economies that can emerge where heavy and large economies cannot," he argued.

In his words, Bulgaria is an accessible, safe, and affordable destination, but there is room for improvement in terms of air connectivity. Part of the big conversation is also about how accessible the mountains are, how modern they are, so that they can open up more and more to foreigners and to the domestic market, he explained.

/DS/