Forum Home About BSER Projects Newsletter Contact Click here to apply online You are here: About BSER » Members Municipality of Bourgas Short presentation | Legal and Administrative framework | Description | Main activities and development directions | Municipality of Bourgas Partnerships / twinning agreements | Municipality of Nessebar Municipality of Shabla Description Municipality of Varna Economy: Burgas is an important industrial, trade, transport and tourist centre. Some of the industries of the region are unique and determinant for the country economy like oil production, chemical products, plastic production and other chemical products, ship building, air ventilating and purifying equipment, goods wagon production, fish industry etc.Burgas region is the second most important region in Bulgaria according to its economic potential. The long term credit rating of Burgas is BBB stable perspective. Gross domestic product of Burgas and Bulgaria Bulgaria Burgas Per capita for Burgas 2007 - 50 406 million BGN 2007 - 2 631 million BGN 2007 -11 446 BGN 2008 - 53 934million BGN 2008 - 2 815 million BGN 2008 - 12 246 BGN 19 295 companies are registered in Burgas, active mainly in the field of industry, construction, transport and commerce. Diverse economics predetermines the leading position of the Municipality and the region. The unemployment rate is 1.62 % comparing to 6.9 % for Bulgaria for 2007. Types of business enterprises for year 2006 registered in the Territorial statistical bureau Type Number of employees Number of enterprises Micro Up to 9 9839 Small From 10 to 49 925 Medium From 50 to 249 170 Large Over 249 31 Burgas provides 5, 22% share of the gross domestic product for the country. The industry is the main sector which provides 86.2% from the production and explores 81.9% from the long term assets and 50, 6% from the labor force. The main sectors which determine the structure of the industry are the chemical and oil-refining industry, food industry, electronic and machine building. The chemical industry provides 84.5% from the total revenues. The share of the long term assets for the chemical industry is 71%. Lukoil Neftohim AD and Hemus AD are the main companies in the field. The food industry is the second important branch in the region. The only fish canning factory is situated in Burgas. The electrical industry is specialized in cable production and tools building. The machine building industry is presented by production of ships. The main industry sectors for Burgas are forming the following structure: Oil Industry 70% Chemical Industry 12.50% Food Industry 12.20% Textile Industry 2.40% Energy Industry 2.90% Railway transport: The total length of the railway road in Burgas Municipality is 186, 5km. There are 46 industrial railway lines including the railway lines at the port of Burgas and Lukoil Neftohim AD. 2007 Till August 2008 Number of travelers to and from Burgas railway station 567 199 381 537 Number of trains to and from Burgas railway station 10836 7 272 2006 2007 Loads 5626 797 4608 768 Including Coals 33, 99% 39, 61% Ores, metals 33, 87% 28, 89% Oil and oil products 18, 41% 18, 59% Others 13, 73% 12, 91% Water transport: The major cargo flows in the country through the biggest port in Bulgaria that is situated in the Burgas gulf. The Port of Burgas realizes around 60% of the national sea import - export trade. It has huge storage facilities for accommodating different kind of cargoes with a high level of security. The Port of Burgas serves its duties by 3 sub- ports, one dedicated storage base and one seasonal passenger terminal in the port of Nessebar. The Port operates 28 vessel s berths, having totally 4800 ms of quays and maximum allowable draught of 15.50ms. The existing access channels and depths alongside allow vessels featuring dwt of 125000t to be handeled. Freight turnover 2005, tones Freight turnover 2006, tones Annually 5684 000 6899 000 Average per month 474 000 575 000 converted by Web2PDFConvert.com Air transport: Burgas Airport is situated 10 km north- east from the city of Burgas and it is the second among Bulgarian airports by its size and importance. The airport is spreading over 2540000sq.m.area. The take off and landing runway is 3200 m long and serves the heaviest airplanes. The capacity of the airport is 1200 passengers per hour. Burgas Airport hosts the flights of 82 international and 5 Bulgarian air companies. The flights are connecting Burgas to 39 countries around Europe and Asia in 121 charter and 17 regular destinations. One of the main advantages of the airport is the possibility for combined transport by air, sea and road. The Port of Burgas is located 15 km from the airport as well as the railroad logistic centre, international road E 87 and the free duty zone. The close location of the biggest refinery on the Balkans provides low cost air fuel. Burgas Municipality has also focused all its resources on developing tourism industry. Burgas is situated on the Black Sea Coast. The city is close to the Southern slopes of the Eastern Balkan range and the Northern Strandja mountain branches. There are mineral springs close to the city with healing water which are considered to be 6000 years old and there are also major cultural and historical landmarks of national and international importance. Beach and recreational tourism : On the territory of Burgas municipality there are very good conditions for bathing and practicing water sports: surfing and waterskiing, fishing, diving, sailing. An international sailing regatta is held here every summer. The good traditions of sailing are a prerequisite for the development of yachting tourism in Burgas. For lovers of extreme sports there are hang gliding, motor gliding and paragliding clubs. The wide beach strip together with the seaside gardens is excellent for both recreation and sport. The western part of the beach of Burgas is covered with black sand peculiar to it, which has a curative effect. Spa and wellness in the region is an opportunity long explored and still to be utilized in full extend. There is a unique area which is situated only 15 km away from the city, 31 m above sea level, a rich winery region Romans called the area Aqua Calide, meaning hot water, in recognition of its waters healing power. Curing slightly mineralized springs, temperature - 41.5 °C. There are very good conditions for eco- tourism on the territory of Burgas Municipality. Firth lakes of Burgas, Atanasovo and Mandra are located in the immediate vicinity of the sea shore. They form the so called wet zones. Via Pontica – one of the biggest flyways of migratory birds from all over Europe – passes over them. Therefore large parts of the lakes are declared protected territories. 54 bird species build their nests here, 61 of which are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. 40 000 t of sea salt is obtained yearly in the buffer zone of Lake Atanasovo, the curative mud and lye are valuable. Other protected areas are: Poda, the mouth of the Izvorska River and the locality of Uzungeren, the Bay of Chengene Skele – a sea bay at the mouth of the Marinka River. Koriyata at the village of Ravnets has preserved century- old oak forests. The islands of St. Anastasia and St. Ivan are declared nature and archaeology reserves. Another opportunity that the municipality offers to the tourists is the festival and hobby tourism. Home to poets, writers, musicians, actors and painters, Burgas is a boundless stage: International Folklore Festival, Burgas and the Sea National Popular Song Contest, Sweet-voiced Lark National Contest for children s songs, On the Coast International Sofia Film Fest, On the Coast International Theatre Festival, Autumn Literature Days, Friends of Burgas and the Sea National Exhibition, International Dance Sport Tournament for the Cup of Burgas, Flora-Burgas International Flower Exhibition, a cynologic show, International Sand Statue Festival, Blues Fest, Spirit of Burgas MTV Festival are only part of the variegated palette of emotions which build unforgettable memories and friendships among the guests and participants. Geographical location: Burgas Municipality is situated at the Black Sea coast in the South Eastern part of Bulgaria which is a part of the Burgas lowland, which determines the main characteristics of the landscape. The territory of 512 324 decares of Burgas makes it the biggest municipality in Eastern Bulgaria and shares about 7% of the country s territory. It borders Pomorie, Ajtos, Kameno, and Sozopol. There are three lakes on the territory of Burgas Municipality – Burgas lake, Atanasovsko lake and Mandrensko lake which are the largest complex of coastal lakes in Bulgaria and five rivers – Aitoska, Rusokastrenska, Sredetzka, Izvorska and Chakyrliiska rivers. Burgas lake is an open firth linked to the sea. Mandrensko lake is a typical firth and Atanasovsko lake is a typical lagoon. These three lakes together with Poda Lagoon, including Foros Bay form the Burgas wetlands- the most important ornithological complex in Bulgaria and play a significant role in the conservation of biodiversity in the country. Burgas municipality is situated along the Burgas Bay which with its width 10- 12.5 and depth 10- 12 m makes it the largest bay on the Black sea coast of Bulgaria. At present Burgas Municipality comprises of 15 urban areas of one of which Burgas is included with its residential districts – Sarafovo, Lozovo, Krajmorie, Gorno Ezerovo and Dolno Ezerovo, the town of Bylgarovo and 13 villages. The territory of Burgas municipality comprises of 8.1% of the Black sea coast of Bulgaria and according to its type and use is distributed as follows: - Agricultural lands - 65,29% - Forests - 8,22% - Populated and urban areas - 11,72% - Water territories - 12,47% - Territories for mining and quarrying - 0,28% - Territories for transport and infrastructure - 1,63% The total length of the coast line is 3.5 km, from which 2.5km are coast guarded areas.