Austrian Lift Co’s Summer Season characterized By Further Development

After a successful mountain summer in 2022, the best Austrian summer mountain railways are starting the new summer season with optimism. The current booking situation promises a similarly high level of demand as in the previous year. Reason enough to concentrate on the further development of local mountain experiences: In 2023 the best Austrian summer mountain railways will continue to expand their offers and focus on sport and family as well as sustainability.

Variety of offers as the key to sustainable regional development

For more than 20 years, the quality initiative of the Cable Car Association in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce has been focusing on varied mountain experiences that are in harmony with the needs of nature, the region and the guests. In this way they contribute to sustainable regional development. This is also confirmed by the most recent flash survey among the 77 member companies: almost 90 percent of those surveyed were able to record growth in visitors and sales in the summer of 2022. On average, the number of visitors has increased by around 10 to 15 percent, as have the sales figures.

"We are pleased that we can welcome new members to the best Austrian summer mountain railways every year and that we can also get more and more people excited about the alpine mountain summer," says Kornel Grundner, spokesman for the best Austrian summer mountain railways. “This development shows that the experience guarantee that the seal of quality promises is the right strategy for the long-term development of summer tourism in Austria. Issues such as year-round employment and tourism are becoming increasingly important in view of the many challenges. I am proud that we are doing our part.”

With the trend towards short vacations, the demand for news on the mountain is increasing

The variety of offers is attracting more and more younger guests between the ages of 20 and 30 to the mountains in summer, according to the flash survey. The international guests also returned last summer. In general, the trend is towards individual trips and short vacations. The guests stay shorter, but come to the mountains more often than before. That's why the demand for new offers is also increasing - "News on the mountain" are one of the factors that keep holidaymakers coming back to the region. For the member companies this means: constant further development and innovation of the nature experience offers on the mountain. This year, on the one hand, this means expanding the range of offers on the mountain - be it through the creation of themed trails and nature trails or the long-running bike sport offers. The focus is on sports and fun for the whole family.

The desire for sustainability can be felt in all areas

At the same time, further development also means planning and implementing further sustainability offers. "The best Austrian summer mountain railways see it as their responsibility to develop adventure offers on the mountain that are in harmony with the needs of the guests, the region and nature. These offers are also increasingly in demand from guests, employees and partners,” explains Grundner. 67 percent of the summer mountain railways surveyed feel the desire for sustainability measures in the area of ​​regionality. Closely followed by measures in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency with 47 percent, climate-friendly mobility with 42 percent and social commitment with 42 percent.

Expansion of the sustainability measures for the summer mountain railways

From the first Austria-wide survey on the status quo of the sustainability measures of the best Austrian summer mountain railways last year, it is known that 98 percent of the members are already implementing specific measures for nature and landscape protection and 92 percent in the area of ​​energy efficiency and resource conservation. The lightning survey confirms the importance of the sustainability measures: All mountain railways surveyed are planning further measures this year or will implement them in 2023. More than half plan further development in the area of ​​mobility (e.g. e-bus shuttle and e-charging stations), 54 percent in the area of ​​energy supply (e.g. expansion of photovoltaic systems, energy savings through energy monitoring) and 46 percent in the area of ​​social commitment (e.g. increased integration of the locals, accessibility on the mountain,
"With our strategic focus on the variety of offers and further development, we have developed summer mountain tourism into a relevant pillar of the Austrian tourism industry," concludes Grundner proudly. "Year after year we attract new holiday guests to our mountains in the summer and at the same time manage to welcome experienced mountain vacationers again and again."