Development of Bansko Location Bansko is situated in the beautiful Razlog valley, at the foot of the Pirin Mountain. It was once mainly a cattle breeding town but it has now developed into a tourist haven, with thousands of visitors from all over the world.     Past Tourism Tourists were first attracted to Bansko by the hugely popular Jazz festival, held every August. Musicians from all nationalities and representing many genres of music, attract an international crowd to this historic town. Affluence and Development Bansko can now be described as a popular holiday destination. Famous for its mountain peaks, as well as its old pine woods and mineral lakes; Bansko is an ideal place to spend both winter and summer vacations. As tourism grows, so too does the town’s affluence and this is displayed in the rapid changes Bansko is undergoing. A brand new, modern gondola station was built in 2003, one that equals any of those in the larger alpine resorts. Plans have been passed for a second and third gondola, reflecting further the fast growth of this once sleepy town.   Infrastructure The infrastructure is developing as quickly too. New roads and pavements are being laid, so there is good access in and out of the town and this will continue to improve over the coming year. For those of you who have never visited Bansko, you may be surprised to know that road signs are displayed in both Cyrillic and English. Indeed evidence of EU and government funding is everywhere as Bansko turns from a humble town to a bustling mountain resort. Future Plans Future plans for Bansko’s development continue, with a rumour of an airport being built in the Razlog valley area. A so called 30,000,000 euros has already been raised for this project. This will reduce the 2 1/2 hour transfer from Sofia airport to a mere 15mins. There are also big plans to attract a greater summer tourist trade too, with the Ian Woosnam golf course well underway, an 18-hole course that is set to rival those in top Mediterranean destinations. It seems that those who have invested in Bansko have been proved correct, with property prices set to climb another 7% in January when Bulgaria officially joins the EU.       Bansko will then become an even more attractive place for holidaymakers, with cheap, direct flights becoming available from all main UK airports. Certainly for the time being, it seems that Bansko will continue to boom in all respects, and when you experience it for yourself, you will know why.