A study of public opinion by the Bulgarian branch of WWF, who polled 990 people, has reported that four out of five Bulgarians supported local nature conservation organisations efforts to stop over-development in the country’s mountains. The number is said to be marked increase on previous studies.
75% of Bulgarians said they did not approve of the construction of new hotels, pistes and lifts in the protected areas in the Bulgarian mountains of Rila, Pirin, Stara Planina, Vitosha and Rhodopi. A similar number said they did not think the Bulgarian government was doing enough to preserve and protect the areas.
There are signs that the booming ski resort property business in Bulgaria may have peaked. Residential property developer Bulgarian Land Development recently said it has put up for sale several of its holiday projects including Riverland in the western ski resort of Borovets.
The company was pressed to sell by shareholders demanding bigger profits and better return on equity, according to local media reports. Bulgarian Land Development executive director Dimitar Savov said the project has attracted prospective buyers from Russia and the Middle East.