A weekend of festivities marked the official launch of the summer season in Bansko, including a concert and folklore singing and dancing as well as a sumptuous food festival in the town's Pirin Hotel.
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Mayor Alexander Kravarov headed a press conference in the Pirin Hotel – also attended by representatives of Bansko's tourist association – at which it was revealed that Bansko had enjoyed 60 per cent bed occupancy during the winter (something acclaimed by the panel as a success given the sharp economic downturn) and that 30 per cent occupancy (of Bankso's 280 hotels) would be judged a success in the summer.
The mayor revealed plans to expand the town's sporting facilities – including tennis courts and football grounds – and, in response to a couple of critical questions from the press, said that he and the municipality would endeavour to persuade hoteliers to create more green areas around their establishments. Kravarov said he wasn't responsible for any (perceived) over-building because private unregulated agricultural land had been sold to building contractors.
During the weekend a delegation was shown around some of Bansko's main attractions, including the Nikola Vaptsarov Musuem (home of the famous anti-fascist poet murdered by Bulgaria's fascist government during World War 2), the Neofit Rilksi house (home to one of the most celebrated teachers and figures of the Bulgarian National Revival) and the Sveta Troitsa church.
Many hotels were also shown to visitors during the weekend, including some exquisite guesthouses offering rooms for as little as 20 leva a night in the summer.
