The fierce division of public opinion in Bulgaria is commonplace. We are divided for and against Russia, for and against a new state debt, and since recently - for and against a second ski lift in the resort of Bansko. Those interested in alpine skiing and those who have visited Bulgaria in the winter surely know that the most modern ski resort in Eastern Europe joins the list of other famous resorts hosting the races of the World Cup, the most prestigious circuit in alpine skiing competitions. Bansko will welcome the female skiing elite for three races at the end of this week.

This is, however, far from everything Bansko is associated with, particularly in Bulgaria. For years, there has been a fierce strife between environmentalists and friends of skiing, as if love of nature and winter sports were something mutually exclusive. For 12 years now, the modernized ski area above Bansko is a thorn in the eyes of environmentalists because of the forests cleared for the construction of new lifts and ski runs. The bone of contention is currently the building of a second gondola lift from the town to the ski area under Todorka Peak. According to the concessionaire, the existing gondola cannot absorb the large number of tourists as endless queues are formed, which naturally makes all guests of Bansko nervously waiting. And those concerned about the nature of Pirin fear that yet again century-old trees will be cut down, reminding everyone of the unscrupulous overdevelopment of the resort and the surrounding area after the modernization of the ski zone that went beyond all reasonable limits. The massive influx of hotels and apartment complexes in the woods can be seen with the naked eye and fears of a second wave of construction gluttony are fully justified.

The raging firefight between the two enemy camps around the second ski lift in Bansko remains an insignificant issue against the backdrop of the far more important issue of long-term development of mountain tourism in Bulgaria. No answers have been provided by protests nor by the formal conferences of the new tourism ministry. There the investor repeats ad nauseam that the development of the ski area provides the livelihood of the local population and creates new jobs, but environmentalists keep referring to the vague benefits of the unexhausted potential of alternative tourism. But never once did anyone hear the argument that the two things can go hand in hand, as in many other countries.

The surface scandal is now at full swing in a country that claims to be a tourist destination if not in the world, at least in Europe. The advertisement for the Ski World Cup, however, is not enough. In order to turn Bulgaria into a prestigious tourist destination, a number of other conditions must be met - safe roads, cozy hotels with friendly staff, good service, a long-term vision for development and recognition. All that is missing in Bansko and the magical second lift will not fill the holes in the streets, nor will it reduce the shamelessly high prices at the resort which drove away many Bulgarian tourists. And vice versa - for the same reasons the lack of a second gondola lift will not make environmentalists feel welcome in Bansko.

Sadly, the endless dispute did not lead to a public debate about what the future of both mountains and the Black Sea coast should be. One thing is for sure: neither the Pirin Mountain is the Alps nor is Bulgaria’s coastline the Mediterranean, although local people and building hyenas dream of the profits of Kitzbühel and Nice. It will not be until the long-term vision for the future of the tourism industry in Bulgaria has become clear that superficial disputes such as the one for the second lift in Bansko will seem ridiculously redundant.

English Rossitsa Petcova