Bulgaria’s winter resorts are grappling with a combination of challenges as the upcoming winter season approaches, with personnel shortages and parking issues taking center stage.
Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev recently addressed these concerns, stating that tackling the workforce shortage will require hiring employees from abroad, a move that highlights the ongoing strain in the sector.
Speaking on Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Miloshev acknowledged that Bulgaria’s winter resorts are facing a pressing issue of insufficient staff, which has been exacerbated by the growing demand for winter tourism.
“We will not be able to address the personnel shortage without foreign workers,” Miloshev said, pointing to the difficulty in recruiting enough local staff to meet the increasing needs of the resorts.
As tourism recovers from the pandemic, the demand for services has surged, and resort operators are struggling to fill essential roles.
In addition to staffing issues, Miloshev highlighted the ongoing parking difficulties at Pamporovo, one of Bulgaria’s most popular ski resorts.
Visitors to the resort often face a shortage of parking spaces, which not only inconveniences tourists but also raises concerns about emergency vehicle access.
The problem is linked to the resort’s general development plan, which has long been restricted due to the area’s land designation as part of the national forest fund.
The development plan, which aims to address the parking situation, will soon be reviewed by an inter-institutional working committee.
However, Miloshev noted that while the project has secured funding and a conceptual design, the forest land designation remains a significant obstacle.
“We have the necessary resources, but the legal designation of the land as part of the forest fund prevents us from moving forward with the construction,” he explained.
The lack of parking at Pamporovo has raised concerns about its environmental impact, as Miloshev pointed out that the congestion caused by parked cars detracts from the resort’s natural beauty. “A tourist cannot arrive at a winter resort and find nowhere to park.”
“This impacts the ecology as well. Cars congesting a winter resort detract from its beauty and the experience of enjoying the snow and mountain serenity,” he said.
The minister emphasized that these issues, while inconvenient, are being taken seriously as part of the broader plan to improve Bulgaria’s winter tourism infrastructure.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Miloshev remains optimistic about the upcoming winter season. Local residents have reported an unusually high amount of snowfall this year, marking what is expected to be the heaviest snowfall in a decade for this time of year.
This, combined with favorable weather conditions, offers promising prospects for winter sports enthusiasts and tourists looking to enjoy the slopes and surrounding mountains.
As Bulgaria’s winter resorts prepare for a busy season ahead, both the personnel shortage and parking issues remain top priorities for the Ministry of Tourism.
With foreign workers expected to fill critical positions and efforts underway to resolve the parking crisis, the industry is cautiously optimistic that these challenges will not overshadow the resort’s ability to attract visitors and deliver a memorable winter experience.