Bansko has been designated the winter capital of the Balkans, the municipal press center said. This happened at a special ceremony during the

International Fair of Tourism in Novi Sad, Serbia, on the last day of September.

The proposal for this highest honor came from the leadership of the Balkan Association of Hotel and Restaurant Keepers. The Balkan Winter Capital Badge was handed to Bansko Mayor Aleksandar Kravarov in the presence of more than 1,000 guests.

"It is a fact that what we have done in ten years, now is appreciated by all guests of the resort town although we are still criticized and have some problems," Kravarov is quoted as saying. In his words, the honour obligates the resort town even more to be the perfect host of the start of the men's ski world cup next year.

Before 1999, Bansko had only two ski runs, a ski lift and a hotel. Now it has a total length of 75 km of ski runs, 180 snow machines and 15 000 hotel beds. Investments in the resort amount to 4 000 million euro.

Source: BTA