Positive Start To The Winter For Graubunden Liftco’s

After the challenging last winter, the mountain railways in Graubünden started the season with 20.6 percent more first entries (guest frequency) by the end of the year. According to the industry organization Bergbahnen Graubünden (BBGR), guests enjoy snow sports on the mountain in excellent slope conditions.

The volatility of the development is considerable: Last winter, the Bündner Bergbahnen recorded 19 percent fewer guests at the start of the winter, after the previous winter had reached the high level before Corona with an increase of 28 percent. Thanks to technical snowmaking, the damage to medium-sized and larger companies was kept to a minimum. With the current increase of 20.6 percent in first-time entries, the Bündner Bergbahnen achieved the second best start to the winter season in the last ten years. Compared to the 5-year average, the increase is 12.2 percent – ​​compared to the 10-year average, it is 18.7 percent.

Wide range and terrace weather

Thanks to the technical snowmaking and the snowfall in December, the mountain railways were able to open early and achieve very good frequencies in the previous season. The current range of slopes is very wide and the many guests are well distributed across the ski areas. In addition to the slopes, the other snow activities such as winter hiking, tobogganing and various events are also well attended by guests. The rather warm “terrace weather” also led to pleasing restaurant sales. According to Martin Hug, President of Bergbahnen Graubünden (BBGR), snow sports are still in great demand. The snowfall in the lowlands has encouraged the desire for enjoyment in the mountains. At the same time, guests' demands for slope quality and comfort have increased. Martin Hug points out that the mountain railways in Graubünden invest over 100 million francs annually in the renewal and further development of their offering. And not just in railway and slope infrastructure, but also in accommodation and restaurants as well as in technologies for resource optimization. The current value creation study shows an annual value creation by the Bündner Bergbahnen of 500 million francs for Graubünden and an additional 210 million for Switzerland. The Bündner Bergbahnen's entrepreneurial activities generate 3,699 full-time jobs in Graubünden and 1,454 additional full-time jobs in Switzerland.

The numbers from the mountain railway monitor

The traffic revenue over the festive period amounts to around 20 to 25 percent of the total traffic revenue of the Graubünden mountain railways, 90 percent of which is still generated in winter. The BBGR monitor includes 23 mountain railway companies with a representative regional distribution, which produce 90 percent of Graubünden's transport turnover. Above the nationwide increase of 20.6 percent* in guest frequencies are the Mitte region with 32.4 percent (including Arosa Lenzerheide), the Surselva region with an increase of 25.5 percent and the Davos Klosters region with an increase of 22, 2 percent. The Engadine recorded a smaller increase: 9.2 percent in the Lower Engadine and 6.8 percent in the Upper Engadine. The strong increase in the Central and Surselva regions compared to the previous year is due to the good piste conditions in the medium and small snow sports areas. There were noticeably more international guests in Davos Klosters. In contrast to the other regions, the Upper Engadine recorded significantly smaller declines in the previous year. That's why the increase this year is less high. In the 5-year average, Davos Klosters and Surselva are at the top with an increase of 14.4 and 14.3 percent. This is followed by the Upper Engadine with 11.3, the Middle with 10.8 and the Lower Engadine with an increase of 6.8 percent. Martin Hug is confident about the coming sports and spring holidays: “Grisons offers the whole range of lifestyle for snow sports enjoyment, including great events and top mountain gastronomy.”