Bulgaria to start drafting new Vitosha Nature Park plan in 2027

Work on a new management plan for Vitosha Nature Park is due to begin in January 2027, Environment Minister Rositsa Karamfilova said, outlining priorities that include nature conservation, public access, improving quality of life and developing infrastructure.

Karamfilova said the government aimed to turn Vitosha into a year-round destination and restore the mountain huts. She described preserving the mountain as "a mission" requiring the commitment of society as a whole.

Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov said he hoped work on the project could begin in earnest within months. One of the main challenges, he said, was the poor state of the mountain's lift system, which forces visitors to travel by car and puts pressure on the environment.

"The goal is for Vitosha to become a modern, accessible mountain through the restoration of eco-friendly cable transport," Shishkov said.

Editor: Diana Tsankova