Bansko picture thanks to: http://www.peisaje-montane.ro/)
A decision by the Bulgarian resort of Bansko not to sell season passes, only made clear as the season begins, has gone down badly with locals and seasonaires who face huge cost increases for their skiing and boarding.
There are reported to be no season passes for sale for Bansko lifts for 2013-14, with the best multi-day ticket available a 40 day ‘Premium Pass’ costing 1500 lev (£650) – which is 50 lev more expensive that the 2012/13 full season pass was at 1450 lev (£620).
“We get a third of the skiing for £30 more. At these rates the full season would be over £2k, surely making Bansko the most expensive ski lift season pass in Europe if not the world?” said one disgruntled local.
“It’s hard to put into words the feelings of disappointment, confusion and anger that are being felt by many people in Bansko at the moment. There are so many seasonaires who love skiing and boarding in Bansko and who take jobs here just so that they can enjoy the mountain,” said another, adding,
“For seasonaires who can only ski for a few hours a day when they have time off, the 40 day ski pass becomes prohibitively expensive per hour and also feels like a huge ‘kick in the teeth’ to seasonaires who supported the resort last year by signing petitions and joining protests when they was campaigning to expand the ski area.”
“We believe that seasonaires are the ‘life-blood’ of any ski resort – they support their resort, spend money in it and encourage others to visit. To see them being actively exploited by the ski resort that they love is unfair.”
“We have an apartment here and have been coming to Bansko for the past five years, however following this and in our opinion previous unjustifiable lift pass increases we’d rather spend our hard earned money in another country which appreciates the local businesses, staff and tourists,” said a local property owner, adding,
“The late release of these rates not only takes advantage of tourists but also locals and staff working at this resort and I can only see this ultimately leading to the long detriment of the resort.”