Tourism Centre “Perelik” Will Welcome Skiers by the End of 2008

Svetla Dobreva, Stroitelstvo

22 km ski slopes, 11 lifts and unique snow park will be constructed in the site!

Sport – tourism centre Perelik will offer 22 km ski slopes, 11 lifts, ski schools and unique snow park on a total are of 35 thousand square km tourists by December 2008. This was announced by Mr. Cyril Asenov – head of the board of directors of “STC Perelik” Joint Venture, who presented the project before the participants of the first Tourism Fair “Tourism in Rodope Mountain – together from both ends of the border.”
The idea for the construction of a mountain resort at the foot of the highest peak in the Rodope Mountain – Perelik, dates back 47 years. Samolyan made a competition to choose a strategic partner for the municipal, who will finance the project. This the joint venture “STC Perelik” was chosen. The contract for the fulfillment of the project was signed on 1 March 2007. The resort is planned to be constructed at the foot of the peaks Perelik and Kozuyatak in the Perelik part of the Rodope Mountain, from 1300 to 2191 m above the sea level. The villages Stoykite, Gela, Solishtsa, Stikle and Mugla will also be part of the project.
For just three months, the project for the change of the total structure plan of STC “Perelik” was completed with the support of Prof. PhD. Vesselina Troeva, consulted by leading specialists from France.
The municipal council accepted a project whose dimensions were enlarged to 13705.4 hectares. The main goal of the plan is to create an optimal dimension and functional structure for the development of all year round tourism and complex structure of sport – tourism centre “Perelik” together with the natural recourses of the Rodope mountain. This will be the greenest resort on the Balkan Peninsula, announced Cyril Asenov. The diverse nature of the Perelik part of the mountain gives opportunities for the development of a wide range of equipment for winter sports (ski, snowboards, ski run, sledge sliding, dog – sledges and even kite surf), as well as possibility for active relax outside the ski season by the construction of tourism and cycling tracks, golf course, aqua park, zone for rural tourism, hunting and fishing tourism, exposure of local crafts and etc. 217 km ski slopes for 27 thousand skiers, 1500 snow cannons, parking for 7740 places, thematic parks for 4400 visitors and eco villages in the typical Rodopian style. In the sites over 1600 m above the sea level, just several ski slopes of different length and difficulty, four restaurants, medicine and information centres will be constructed. The old road infrastructure will be renewed. Almost 70% of the ski slopes will pass through bare and denuded of forests sites along the peaks and gullies. The width of the slopes will be diminished when entering forest regions. A three year program for afforesting of one million fir three saplings will start from next year.
A full naturalizing of the zones with completed construction, grassing of the slopes and use of the high mountain pastures will be performed. All of the snow maintenance machines are planned to operate with bio diesel.
The project is completely synchronized with “Natura 2000”, announced Mr. Cyril Asenov. The investor will bestow 200 decares of land nearby the “Soskovcheto reserve” for the enlargement of the territory of the protected site. The lakes, conducting water during the summer will be used for fire fighting when necessary. The systems for artificial snow are projected to service as firefighting hydrations.
The first main body, whose preparation will start with the completion of the geodesy survey, is situated in the Krivata reka (the twisted river) site (1510 m above the sea level), in close vicinity to the road Smolyan – Stoykite, just 69 km away from Plovdiv Airport. It is planned to be completed during the period 2008 – 2010.
By the end of January a company, which will complete the excavation works, as well as the execution of the lift equipment will be chosen. The first phase of the project plans the construction of 67 km ski slopes, and by the end of 2008 the first 27 km will be ready, services by five lifts, ski storage, ski schools, snow park on 35 thousand square km, indoor parking lot for around 700 cars and two restaurants. By the end of 2010 the number of lifts should reach 20.
The tourism accents which will be stressed during the first phase are: ski and snowboard, ski run, sledge sliding, dog – sledge and snow – shoes. A complex for Biathlon, eco trails, Aqua Park, eight hotels with spa centres, also a golf course is expected to be completed by 2010 in the Kizuyatak peak site, together with a horse riding base, children’s park for adventures, routes for mountain climbing, hang gliding and entertainment parks. The motto of Perelik resort is “Beautiful nature – happy tourists”.
At the end of August, the first project venture “Perelik Infrastucture Company” was created, with a decision of the Municipal Council. The municipal participates in the company with 24,99% of the total capital. It plans to exchange 10 180 decares of land plots in the forest fund and 52 decares agricultural land plots for governmental terrains within the borders of the future ski centre.
The sport equipment will be mainly constructed along these terrains – ski slopes, lifts, drug lifts, as well as the service infrastructure – water supply and electricity nets. “Alfa Developments” Joint Venture, part of the structure of “Alfa Finance Holding” will consult the project.