What is behind the hysterical campaign of second gondola lift necessity in National Park Pirin

The environmentalists insisted that:
 the Ministry of Environment and Water in Bulgraia /MEWB/, which is the contracting authority of the project and sponsor of the plan for management of National Park Pirin stop temporally its implementation and make the Park's Director introduce the necessary documents for environmental impact assessment and admissibility verification needed according to the Protected Areas Act and the Biodiverse Act. Moreover, that is necessary for аvoiding the provision of governmental help to the concessioner of the ski-zone Bansko – Yulen and Glavbulgarstroy.
 Тhe commission concerned with the problems of the concession of the ski-zone Bansko be given a public online hearing to the National Assembly. The commission's dead-line for the presentation is 15/02/2015.
 an actual debate to be held about the development of Bulgarian tourism and its forms, except for the ski-sport, especially concerning the future plans for the management of National Park Rila and Nature Park Vitosha because of the great public interest.
 The transgressor against the concession contract – Yulen be punished according to the law and the concession contract for ski-zone Bansko be put to an end.
In addition to the transgression, the environmentalists also made several propositions to the concessioner Yulen and the Municipality of Bansko for better development as follows:
1. in order the work of the gondola lift to be improved:
- the desks for tickets and the gondola should open at 7:00am in order to avoid forming of crowds in rush hour.
- the maximum capacity of the gondola's speed (often it works on slow motion or on impulses – accelerates an then stops) should be used.
- the VIP queue, which allows special groups to move quicker, should be suppressed because they usually form a digestion at the moment of getting on the gondola.
2. In order the ski-service to be improved:
- the prices of the lift-cards should be differentiated so that big discounts for the Monday-Thursday period to be promoted. In that way the short-term holidays during the week will be stimulated.
- implementation of morning half-day cards for the 08:30-12:30 period /as it is in Borovets/
- lowering the price of the half-day cards so that the non-active skiers are stimulated to ski either in the morning or in the afternoon.
- organization of a system of shuttle buses /hybrids or electrics with low carbon emissions/ on a tight schedule to the lower station of lift “Zhelezen Most” or Banderishka polyana as well as restriction of the access of private cars in the period 08:00-11:00.
- the shuttle buses of the hotels to stop the skiers not at the gondola but at the first open-seat lift.
- implementation of free public parking places.

Additional information:

Which are the three criteria for choosing Pirin for a world natural heritage of UNESCO?
1. exceptionally beautiful mountain landscape
2. the value of the glacial forms, incl. alpine peaks and summits, lakes.
3. Pirin is a centre of species formation, which is proven by the numerous endemic and relic species.


National Park Pirin is exclusive state property to all people of Bulgaria and it preserves centuries-old forests of white and black fir as well as many other protected species. That is the only National Park on whose territory there is a ski-zone. /Borovets is out of the National Park Rila and in Pamporovo there is no national park/

What are the UNESCO's conditions for the development of the tourism in National Park Pirin /2001-2014/
1. the government have to clarify where in the establishment of the facilities of the ski zone there is violation of the law and acts /ski lift Zhelezen most – Platoto, ski tracks - Platoto-north, Shiligarnik 2, Tomba etc, reservoir in Area of Banderishka polyana/.
2. The capacity of the ecosystems have to be estimated by the government, restrictions for the usage of the touristic areas have to be implemented as well as relevant measures for restoration and forestation of the affected territories incl. the recommended by UNESCO zones /2002-11/ have to be undertaken.
3. the government must not allow new building in the national park/incl. In the buffer zone of the UNESCO object/. Also it have to prevent from extension the touristic zones while planning the new management of the park /UNESCO recommendation from 2011/.
4. the government have to be engaged in research on the development of alternative forms of ski tourism according to the Strategy for Sustainable tourism in National Park Pirin financed by UNESCO in order the local municipalities to be helped /UNESCO recommendation 2011-13/.