Part of the deductions of the business sector for local taxes should be granted for investments in the Bulgarian resorts - this is one of the proposals for amendments to the legislation drawn by the Union of Owners of Sunny Beach (UOSB) and the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association. According to Elena Ivanova, UOSB Chairwoman, in the first place, certain criteria should be prepared and they should determine which resorts are national resorts. Currently, they are defined as settlements of national importance, but it is not clear what follows from that. The proposals will be recorded under a special chapter in the Spatial Development Act, specified Ivanova.
Resorts should be managed on equal terms, regardless of the form and address of the property. Currently, for instance, Pamporovo resort falls within the territory of two municipalities - Smolyan and Chepelare. Albena resort is owned by a private partnership, while Sunny Beach is managed by a company in which the State holds 75% of the stock. Therefore, a special body should be set up by all interested stakeholders that will become an arbitrator for the various interests. "In the Sunny Beach resort, hoteliers pay a tourist charge to the municipality of Nessebar, as well as an infrastructure fee to Sunny Beach PLC complex. Actually, that is something nobody else practices."
Even now, the Tourism Act envisages the tourism fee to be allocated for infrastructure and advertising, but it is only at will. The major problems around the Black Sea coast also pertain to the temporary buildings and the noise from the pubs and amusement parks.
Most importantly, there should be ski police and categorisation of the ski tracks and the adjacent facilities in order the ski resorts to be regulated. This is the main point of consideration in the new Tourism Act, announced representatives from Pamporovo PLC. Hoteliers in Bansko in turn insist that apartments be rented as hotels only if 50% of the owners agree. The business sector does not commit itself to more specific ideas.
|