YEAR ROUND MOUNTAIN RESORT KOZUF

I.PROJECT OUTLINE

Initiative for the projected development plan is based upon more than 10 year studies of the Mountain region of Kozuf, year round and predominantly in winter period. Projected development plan for the Year Round Mountain Resort KOZUF generally is alienated into developing wide range of tourist offers/services on a year round base that will differentiate from the other resort in the South-East region of Europe.

Year Round resort KOZUF is situated in the south part of Macedonia, on the border line to neighboring country of Greece. Year round resort KOZUF is positioned 1 hour and 20 minutes far away from metropolitan city of Thessaloniki in Greece and 1hour 30 minutes from capital town Skopje.

Year round resort village area is located on an altitude begging at 1550 to 1700 meters altitudes above sea level and the ski area starting from 1500 meters to 2200 meters altitude. Mountain resort is positioned on the North face of the Mountain Kozuf, which makes as a place for better and long lasting snow conditions during winter period.

Development plan for the village complex is based and exactingly defined by officially authorized detail urban plan that consist the following infrastructure facilities: 200 chalets, 40 small hotels, 6 big hotels, 2000 beds accommodated in condominiums, open parking lot for 2000 cars, multimedia center, shops, après ski bar, ski and snowboard, bicycle, mountain gear shops and rentals, restaurants, cafeterias, open and indoor sports facilities for tennis, football, basketball, golf, water parks and other similar facilities.

Development plan for the ski area as well for the other outdoor activities is based on officially authorized general urban plan that characterize the following: system of 6 chair lifts and 2 drag lifts with total capacity of 20.000 skiers/h, an area of 140 km groomed ski trails, free ride area of 1500 hectares, 14km of snowmaking system.

Attractiveness of the year round mountain resort KOZUF

Mountain resort natural surroundings are fundamental for developing year round tourist offer, location of the Kozuf village complex as defined by the general and detail urban plan generate a distinctive competitive advantage that makes all facilities to be positioned as ski-in ski-out locations.
Regarding offers that are defining the winter tourist offer includes the following activities: skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, horse riding, helio-skiing, snow-cat ride, tube ride parks, sledge-slide, snowmobile tours, free ride skiing and snowboarding, fun park.
Thus offering all listed winter tourist services have to be embraced up by long lasting snow conditions that are prior to developing a higher level of services which are strong side of the developing resort counting on the north face exposure were the resort is placed.

Mount KOZUF, is the first natural barrier of the Republic directly encountering the influences of the Mediterranean climate arising from the Aegean Sea (a 35 km air-line) and as a consequence meets the Mediterranean and continental climate, thus resulting in copious rain fall during the period from May till October and snow during the period from November till April. For these reasons, the first snow usually falls at the beginning to mid November and the snow cover lasts till the end of April. The average height of the snow cover exceeds 150 cm during the winter.

Concerning the rest period of the year defining tourist offers includes the following activities: mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, historic tourism, fishing, congress tourism, water parks, spa-tourism. Thus developing such offers depends much on the surroundings of the resort such as the fauna and flora of the region is unique and in abundance, it is totally secluded and naturally preserved and protected adequately suitable for a full season year-round resort facility. The fauna and flora along with the specific geology of the area are outlined herein.

II. Introduction

With the completion of project Ski Center Kozuf, a top mountain complex will be build with a year-round offer.
This project is being built on a 550 ha ground, for which a Detailed Urban Plan is done. On a ground of 50 ha, which are property of Ski Centar Kozuf, a mountain village will be build, respectably on the 500 ha which are under concession of 40 years, the whole system of ski-lifts is being built.
This mountain tourist complex will be the top travel destination in South-East Europe, and in order to accomplish that it has all needed requirements at disposal.
- Beautiful and untouched vast nature with a range of 1500 km2
- Great location for building the mountain village, at a altitude of 1700 m
- Excellent climate conditions throughout the whole year (Winters rich with snow and mild summers)
- Closeness of two big metropolis, Thessaloniki and Skopje with approximately 3 million people
- Road trip of 1h and 30 m to the two international airports to Thessaloniki and Skopje

PROJECT GENERAL OBJECTIVES

Fundamental to the project is the distinctive and diversified activities that will be offered in the mountain resort that will cover broad range of customer's family, young, adult, elder gropus, sport clubs, etc.

WINTER TOURIST OFFERS
• The best equipped ski center in South-East Europe with seven chairlifts and four ski-lifts of total capacity of 25.000 skiers/h
• 80 km prepared (groomed) ski trails
• 80 guns for snowmaking
• 1500 ha terrains for freeskiing
• 20 km prepared lanes for cross-country skiing
• 200 km trails for snowmobiles
• Heli skiing, cat skiing
• Nordic skiing and snow-shoeing

SUMMER TOURIST OFFERS

The summer tourist supply will be based on recreation center with:
• Water park with complex of pools
• 2 basketball and fieldball grounds
• 4 tennis grounds
• 1 football ground with athletics track
• 500 ha eco-park

YEAR ROUND OFFERS

• Wellness and Spa Centers
• Mountain climbing
• Mountain biking
• Horseback riding
• Paragliding
• Outdoor adventure park
• Fishing
• Hunting
• Historic tourism
• Restaurants
• Recreation
• Theatre
• Apres ski bars