Vorarlberg Areas Still Not Back To Pre Covid Levels

With box office sales of 139.4 million euros and 5.0 million first-time entries in the past 2021/22 winter season, the Vorarlberg cable cars are on the right track back to economic normality. However, they have not yet been able to build on the previous season before the pandemic. Corona and energy costs will keep the industry busy.

"In contrast to the last winter season, we are in a better position in the 2021/22 season. However, the winter of 2020/21 was an absolutely exceptional season in a negative sense. In any case, it is gratifying that we are getting closer to the numbers from before the pandemic," explains Andreas Gapp, chairman of the Vorarlberg cable car specialist group. However, 700,000 first-time entries or 7.6 percent of box office sales would still be missing from the “pre-corona level”. "Adjusted for inflation, it would have to be eleven percent more sales for us to be able to build on 2018/2019 again," Gapp continues.

Appeal for planning next winter

While some regular guests generally gave up their winter vacation due to the pandemic, other guests switched to Switzerland again this year, where less strict safety guidelines applied this winter and last winter. This could be observed among holidaymakers from Germany or the Netherlands, but also partly among Vorarlberg residents. "In agreement with the entire tourism industry, we are calling for planning for the coming autumn-winter season with regard to any corona rules," Gapp appealed to the federal government. “By taking Switzerland as an example, we can see that a more liberal corona policy is definitely compatible with legitimate health policy goals,” says Gapp, indicating the desired direction.

Rising energy costs hit cable cars

The war in Ukraine also had a negative impact on the number of overnight stays and guests towards the end of this season. The consequences of this crisis will also concern the cable cars in another way: "At the moment we have to assume that the sharp rise in energy costs will also have a rapid impact on ticket prices," Gapp points out. “At the moment we cannot estimate how high this increase will be. As usual, we will announce the ticket prices for the coming winter season in autumn.”

Absolute numbers December 2021 to March 2022