Long a favourite destination of Bulgarians, Pamporovo is now attracting an increasing number of foreign visitors - up to 75 per cent in 2005, according to The Sofia Echo.

Pamporovo was first developed as a ski resort in the 1960´s but it wasn’t until its partial privatisation in the 1990´s that its popularity grew to the levels that it enjoys today. In 2000 a majority share holding in the resort was sold by the government and the number of tourists increased still further.

The burgeoning demand has resulted in the amount of accommodation at the resort tripling since 2003. Much of this is due to the construction of new hotels, but new residential buildings have also supplied many extra beds and have proved popular, particularly since property in Pamporovo is cheaper than in any of the other Bulgarian ski resorts. Fortunately the construction of new developments has been limited to preserve the small town’s charm.

The recent opening of the five-star Hotel Pamporovo has increased the number of facilities available to skiers, with facilities including a gym, Solarium, Jacuzzi and a massage service.

Pamporovo is constantly being improved, with a new four-seat ski lift having recently been installed and 11 billion BGN pledged to upgrade the town’s facilities. Recently plans have been put in place to link Pamporovo's Perelik peak with Smolyan and its lakes. It is hoped that this will transform the Rhodopi Mountains into the biggest ski area in Bulgaria and the resort has already been green-lighted by the Ecology Ministry.

This extension will cost €650 million and add a further 85km of ski runs, plus a number of hotels in the Smolyan Lakes and Raikovski Livadi sites. It is anticipated that, when completed, it will cover an area of 2191 hectares.

At the foot of the Rhodopi Mountains the brand new Perelik golf course is being built. Designed by 2006 Ryder Cup captain and ex-US Masters champion Ian Woosnam, this development will incorporate luxury spa and sports facilities and residential areas.

By the end of 2007 it is anticipated that a new motorway, linking Pamporovo with Greece's Aegean Coast, will be complete. This will mean that this mountain ski resort is now only a 45minute/50 mile drive from the sea, meaning a significant increase in summer rental potential. 

Lacking the size of Bansko and Borovets, Pamporovo nevertheless has the potential to attract winter sports tourists seeking a friendly family resort with excellent facilities and a lively après ski aspect.