Climate change has also reached the last valley. At lower altitudes there is more snow than before, especially in eastern Austria.
“It’s a fact – some have already given up,” said the spokesman for the Hotel Association (ÖHV), Martin Stanitsto the APA. The cable car operators, hoteliers and restaurateurs in the winter sports resorts have to prepare for this with new offers – and some are already doing so. “It is undisputed that it is getting warmer.”
Up to now, local winter and ski tourism has thrived on snow – on the atmosphere and magic of the white landscape and the sugar-coated villages. In order to maintain this, the industry also used snowmaking systems to combat the increasing heat at an early stage. “Now things are getting tighter again,” explained Stanits.
East at a disadvantage
And there is a west-east divide. Eastern Austria is clearly at a disadvantage when it comes to snow loss. “There were even ski lifts in Vienna and Burgenland,” said the industry spokesman, referring to times long past and reminiscent of a ski jump on the Roten Berg in the 13th district and the ski slope on the Hohe-Wand-Wiese in the 14th district. “Now there may be snow on the Red Mountain in the first week of January.” And that was it.
“I wouldn’t invest in ski lifts in eastern Austria now – the heyday of ski lifts isn’t imminent, to put it diplomatically,” said the spokesman for the Austrian Hotel Association (ÖHV). “It works in the west because the mountains are higher there.”
When it comes to snow, the west of the country naturally has it a little easier. “There are higher-altitude ski areas everywhere in western Austria – they will rely on that and stick with it,” expects the tourism expert. Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg continued to benefit from higher altitudes in the Alps. “That will probably stay – Obertauern and almost everything in Tyrol including Arlberg,” confirmed Stanits.
The availability of slopes is becoming increasingly scarce
“The supply is becoming even more limited – to just a few ski areas,” said the industry expert. “We will continue to have this, but the economic viability will continue to reduce, even with shorter seasons.”
But even in the West there are noticeable changes: “Now we already have some debates with higher areas,” admitted Stanits. “From the hotel industry you can already tell.” Skiing guests are sometimes asked to drive a little further to a slightly higher slope, reported the spokesman for the Austrian Hotel Association.
Towards year-round tourism
“The ‘Winter Wonderland’ is missing when there is no snow further down,” says Stanits. There is snow, but only up to the middle station and not further down. “If you want to capture a bit of the mood, it becomes more difficult.” The “Feeling” in the valley is missing. “It’s an advantage if it’s romantic and snowy down below.”
Now it’s time to react to the new facts to further develop the offer and to position ourselves more broadly – towards year-round tourism with organic cuisine, culture, seminars, thermal baths, golfing, hiking and mountain biking. “First movers have been doing this for a long time, the others will follow suit,” the tourism expert is convinced. This means that the cable cars and thus investments that have already been made could be used throughout the year and the employees could be employed continuously.
Cable cars with mountain bike facilities
“All of this is being rolled out across the board – so people have woken up from the state of shock,” said Stanits, outlining the situation in the industry. You have to “adapt the entire system, not depend on the snow,” which is a huge process. Cable cars now also have mountain bike facilities equipped, not just with ski racks. And the ski shops in town often also offer cycling clothing and services. “You can go there even if there is no snow and it’s about having the appropriate offer ready.”