Minister Miroslav Borshosh initiated the second meeting of the interdepartmental working group for the sustainable development of mountain tourism in Bulgaria at the Ministry of Tourism, and the focus was on Vitosha.
“The mountain, which is a symbol of the capital and has enormous tourism potential, is a very important topic for which we are finally gathering all interested and responsible parties in one place - together to decide what the future of Vitosha is. It is an exceptional priority for us to develop tourism in the mountains sustainably, and that is why we are bringing together all parties with an attitude to this process“, said the Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh at the opening of the meeting. According to him, the goal is to conduct a comprehensive analysis and thoroughly discuss the possibilities for guaranteeing accessibility to the mountain, without compromising its preservation.
Particular attention was paid to the need for updating the already developed Management Plan for the Vitosha Nature Park, 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“, emphasized Minister Miroslav Borshosh.
The competent institutions confirmed that the plan is already ready and is due to undergo interdepartmental coordination by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Environment and Water by the end of April. After positive opinions, it will be published for public discussion.
Among the participants were representatives of the relevant ministries, the regional government, the Sofia Municipal Council, representatives of the local government, the non-governmental sector and investors. The topics covered the current state of the tourist infrastructure, the need for reconstruction of existing facilities and the construction of new, possible legislative changes, as well as the coordination of each step with environmental standards.
In the meantime, the subgroups continue their activities within the framework of the interdepartmental working group, with targeted meetings for the other mountains to be organized.