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New Low Cost Carriers Flying to Bulgarian Coast
Sofia Echo Com, Ivan Vatahov, 30.01.2006
WHILE the number of budget airlines flying to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is to increase by one, the state is taking steps against excessive construction that discourages tourists from visiting the coastal resorts. Norwegian low-cost air carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle AS will start flights from Oslo to the Bulgarian Black Sea cities of Varna and Bourgas starting May 2006, the company said on January 19. The flights will be once a week on Saturday, according to initial plans. The first flight will be on May 6. A one-way ticket, including airport taxes, will cost 74 euro. Company representatives said that prices would probably increase when the summer season starts. Norwegian Air Shuttle will be the third low-cost carrier that will fly to Bulgaria. The first two companies offering Sofia as one of their travel destinations are Hungary’s Wizz Air and Slovakia’s Sky Europe, flying respectively to Budapest and Bratislava. Bulgarian air company Hemus Air recently announced it will also offer cheaper tickets to some destinations. The national air carrier, Bulgaria Air, will provide special tariffs. For advance payment, customers of the national air carrier will be eligible for a 20 per cent discount. And while the traffic to and from the seaside resorts is becoming cheaper and more available, the state and local authorities are trying to solve another problem that threatens the tourist industry - excessive construction. Parliament is expected to debate a draft law on Black Sea coastal regulation, proposed by the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry. Measures are needed as construction work along the coast, and directly on the shoreline, threatens to drive away foreign tourists. The new law will try to define clearly what comprises the shoreline and which state body has property rights over it. The lack of a clear definition currently enables construction companies to build hotels without facing sanctions for using public land. It is not clear yet how the state will exercise its right of ownership and take steps against illegal construction. Experts said the new law would have strongest influence over the so-called B-zone, the territory right next to the beach. This land also faces construction regulations, though not as rigid as the expected measures against construction on the shoreline. But, even measures introduced thus far are meeting strong opposition. Entrepreneurs in the city of Varna opposed the ban on construction work that came into effect as of January 3 2006. Mayor Kiril Yordanov stopped all construction work and access to construction sites. The veto applies to buildings for which there are no construction permits or approved investment projects. It will continue in force until a new wastewater treatment plant is built in the city, which may take quite a while. The ban had discouraged investors, who are now going to the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. This led to comments that the ban should have a fixed deadline since the law sets a maximum of two-year validity of such decisions. Developers say that some companies had applied for bank loans with mortgaged properties, which are not subject to the ban. The construction ban also stops the upgrade works of hotels, which if completed, will reduce the wastewater generated. see source
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