After the mayors and the chairmen of the local parliaments from the thirteen municipalities in the Burgas region – Burgas, Aytos, Kameno, Karnobat, Malko Tarnovo, Nessebar, Pomorie, Primorsko, Rouen, Sozopol, Sredets, Sungurlare and Tsarevo – prepared a joint declaration, which they sent to the National Assembly and Council of Ministers. In it, they want an urgent review of the terms of the concession for Burgas Airport and protection of the right to work, income, development and economic growth for the residents of the district.
We publish the declaration without editorial intervention:
DECLARATION
We, the chairmen of the municipal councils from the thirteen municipalities on the territory of Burgas region, unanimously express our strong disagreement regarding the management of Burgas Airport by the airport operator Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD.
In the last 20 years on the territory of the Burgas region, the local government has made exceptional and purposeful efforts to ensure the necessary infrastructure, transport connectivity, business climate, investments, etc., to strengthen the position of the region as a tourist destination.
The interest and the real benefit of the efforts made is unequivocally and categorically indicated by the number of tourists that the airport in Burgas welcomed in 2018 and 2019 – 3.3 million and 2.85 million passengers. For comparison, during the same period in Varna, their number was 2.2 million and 2 million.
These numbers, realized within the summer season, show the tourist potential of the Burgas region and the reason why tourism is the main economic branch and livelihood for a significant part of our fellow citizens. The quoted numbers are also a counterpoint to the opinion expressed by the airport operator in the framework of a tourist forum held in the city of Burgas, that the Southern Black Sea Coast is not attractive enough for tourists.
The positive trends of 2018 and 2019 to date have reversed. Multiple working meetings were held, in which the concessionaire declared its will to expand destinations and provide flights outside the summer season.
For 6 years, municipalities in the region have allocated funds to subsidize year-round flights to Burgas Airport. Despite all these efforts, airlines are diverted to Varna Airport.
In practice, during the autumn-winter period, there are no flights from the Burgas airport. The negatives of lack of passengers are borne by all our fellow citizens. The situation is further aggravated in connection with the planned repairs, which will once again limit the possibility of flights. The door for millions of tourists to Southeast Bulgaria is closed! We all lose from this! An image is being destroyed, businesses are being destroyed, a livelihood handed down from generations is being taken away!
The international airport, which is an easy and convenient entrance, access to the most attractive and picturesque beaches – those on the Southern Black Sea coast, to exceptional cultural monuments and institutions, rich history, festivals and a number of recreational services, does not really work.
In the last decades, the successive policies of the Burgas municipalities are aimed at the development of not only sea tourism, but also cultural tourism – proof is the year-round music festivals with the participation of world performers; sports – tournaments with an international presence are held – Burgas Bay is an increasingly attractive place for modern water sports; the attraction of foreign students through the disclosure of attractive majors offered by universities with well-established traditions and quality teachers.
A huge, modern and functional sports hall was built in Burgas, ready to host world sports events. In recent years, a multifunctional congress center opened its doors, where business events and scientific congresses are held, which favors the development of congress tourism.
In the interest of the citizens of the Burgas region and the neighboring regions of South-Eastern Bulgaria, in the interest of our country, we insist on an urgent review of the conditions of the concession and protection of the right to work, income, development and economic growth.
In conclusion, unequivocally, on behalf of ourselves and our fellow citizens, we declare that we are extremely proud of all the natural, historical and cultural features of the Southern Black Sea coast and the municipalities in the region, with the hospitality, energy and hard work of the local people!
We are categorically behind the fair demands of the local people and will stand up for them together with them!
Adam Adamov – Chairman of the Pomorie Municipal Council
Varban Krastev – Chairman of the Nessebar Municipal Council
Dinko Tsatsarov – Chairman of the Sredets Municipal Council
Zlatina Tjulieva – Chairman of the Primorsko Municipal Council
Ismail Osman – Chairman of the Rouen Municipal Council
Krasimir Stefanov – Chairman of Malko Tarnovo Municipal Council
Krasimir Enchev – Chairman of the Aytos Municipal Council
Margarita Stamatova – Chairman of the Karnobat Municipal Council
Mihail Hadzhiyanev – Chairman of the Burgas Municipal Council
Radoslav Baltadjiev – Chairman of the Kameno Municipal Council
Rushdi Hadjen – Chairman of the Sungurlare Municipal Council
Stanimir Andonov – Chairman of the Sozopol Municipal Council
Tanya Yancheva – Chairman of Tsarevo Municipal Council
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