Things are moving in Bansko, a popular tourist destination in Bulgaria, currently mainly noted for its winter sports, about 100 miles south of the nation’s capital Sofia,but now known as an Alpine golf resort.

Located at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in the Razlog Valley at an altitude of 3000? it’s in a spectacular location, the mountains rising sharply behind the town to a height of around 10,000?. In the distance the Rila and Rhodopi Mountain ranges complete the panorama. High amongst the pine covered slopes the ski runs can be glimpsed, already over 40 miles of them are in in the vicinity and double this are planned.

In Bansko lots of things are planned: two more ski gondolas are on the way, the first opened in 2003, an airport within 5 years, three golf courses, 27 mineral springs to be developed and more hotel and apartment blocks.

Evidence of this expansion is all around, there are many tall cranes, caravans for the imported labourers and a seemingly endless stream of lorries bringing in and taking out the raw materials and supplies. Its more than a plan, its happening, and its happening now.

On a warm sunny day, bumping along a road damaged by the heavy lorries, its perhaps a little difficult to imagine the potential. But potential there is, and its here in abundance. A lot of people see it, and have sunk a lot of money into the area. Seemingly every second shop on the main street is a property office. Bansko is quietly booming. Already there are several new luxury hotels, up and running, several more and several apartment blocks already look close to completion for this years skiing season. Planning controls are already being enforced to restrict future building, one gets the feeling that this is organised, controlled and not just a mad land rush, random development and a quick profit.

SCS