Climate Change Poses Threat to Ski Tourism in Bulgaria - Report

An analysis of the impact of climate change in Bulgaria predicts a lengthened summer season and a serious threat to winter tourism.

According to the analysis, which has been published on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Water, the projected increase in temperatures and the decrease in the number of rainy days in summer, spring and autumn are expected to result in a longer summer season at the expense of a shorter winter season.

At the same time, plans are being made for the construction of a new winter resort in the Rila Mountain and the local authorities in the resort of Bansko have sought permission to expand the ski zone near the town.

"Ski resorts and other activities related to winter tourism will be hardest hit by the climate change, which has a direct negative impact on the local communities depending on the jobs and the revenues generated by this type of tourism," the analysis informs, as cited by Trud daily.

There will be less snow due to the delayed onset of winter precipitation onset and the earlier melting of the snow, which will have a substantial negative impact on ski resorts, especially those in lower mountain regions.

According to the forecast, there will be periods of 2, 4, 5 and even 6 consecutive years of bad winter conditions after 2020.

In the winter of 2014, Bulgaria's mountain resort of Chepelare failed to register any profit because the costs for artificial snow made it impossible.

The lack of snow resulted in an outflow of tourists and the prices of snow passes were substantially reduced.

"It will not be possible to offset the costs for expensive equipment for artificial snow using tourism revenue and even now their use discourages...