Carinthia Snowsports - Expect Positive Prospects Thanks To The Best Preparations

Carinthian cable car companies are looking to the coming winter season with confidence. Well-rehearsed safety concepts for the ascent aids, open mountain restaurants, comfortable hotels and investments in the millions ensure anticipation.

The first snowflakes are already adorning the Carinthian mountains and the cable car companies are well equipped: “The coming winter 2021/22 promises to be more normal than last year. Of course, we are confronted with additional challenges from the Corona measures, but with the comeback of hut gastronomy, hotels and all other partners in winter tourism, we have the opportunity to experience the recreational fun of skiing here in Carinthia in all its facets, "promised Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner, chairman of the Carinthian cable cars, at today's press conference.

Corona measures

70 percent of all winter vacationers in Carinthia come to ski. In order to guarantee safe ski operation for this important tourist target group as well as the local ski guests, the Carinthian cable car operators also support the 3G regulation. The proof is checked when the tickets are sold or when they first enter the ski area. Season ticket holders with a vaccination certificate will be able to use the ski pass for the entire season after it has been activated for the first time. “The 3G rule is both a tightening and an improvement,” said Kapeller-Hopfgartner, and explained: “Due to an additional control loop for ticket sales, which of course means more staff for us, the capacity restriction in the cable cars is falling. So our guests can make the most of their day of skiing. "

Overview of ropeway investments

Despite the bitter losses of last winter, the Carinthian cable cars continue to invest diligently in the continuous development and quality assurance of their offer. As a result, they not only offer more than 1,000 secure jobs in winter, but are also the basis for many more thousands of jobs in the hotels, restaurants and retail outlets in their catchment area.

The focus of the investments of over seven million euros this year is clearly focused on improvements and sustainable measures in the area of ​​comfort: comfort for the ski guests through powerful and at the same time resource-saving snow-making systems, machines for the energy-efficient creation of the best piste carpets in Carinthia and of course by investing in our promotion aids. "In addition to the snow guarantee that we can give here in Carinthia, we want to do everything we can to make skiing on the sunny side of the Alps an unforgettable experience for our skiers", explained Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner. The topics of sustainability, hygiene measures, digitization and fun parks are also at the top of the investment list of the cable car companies.

Representing these ski areas, Alexandra Bresztowanszky, managing partner at SHL Hochrindl Lifte GmbH, cited the most important points: “We small ski areas were able to show last season how important we are for the locals. Many appreciate the natural, manageable and original conditions. But we are in no way inferior to the large areas in terms of quality and guaranteed snow. The children's ski courses are particularly important to Bresztowanszky: “Ski courses for kindergarten and school children are not only important for us as a ski area, but also for the health of the children. We therefore very much hope that the institutions will take advantage of the diverse range of courses again this year. 

Carinthian mountain summer

Of course, the investments do not only benefit the winter guests, but the Carinthian mountain railways are also a real guest magnet in summer. “The second Covid-19 summer went very well for Carinthia's summer mountain railways. With around 1.1 million guests in the summer of 2021, we are 6.9 percent up on the previous year, ”said Elke Basler, Carinthia's state spokesperson for the Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways. Since 2001, the “best Austrian summer mountain railways have been doing pioneering work in terms of summer mountain experiences. “Six of these 73 mountains certified for their quality of experience throughout Austria are located in Carinthia. Bad Kleinkirchheim, Gerlitzen Alpe, Goldeck, Katschberg, Nassfeld and Turracher Höhe form the spearheads of the mountain summer range of cable cars in the country, ”explains Basler and has even more good news in his luggage:

Moderate pricing

The pricing for the coming or current winter season has turned out to be a particularly difficult task this year. Massive price increases in the areas of building materials, raw materials and energy have posed major challenges for the operators of the Carinthian cable cars. “Nevertheless, we have made every effort not to pass these price drivers on to customers. Carinthia still stands for high quality at a moderate price, ”added Kapeller-Hopfgartner. This is reflected in the comparison with the neighboring federal states. While day tickets in the larger ski areas in Carinthia are between 51 and 52.50 euros, in other destinations the 60-euro mark has already been exceeded in many places. As is well known, Carinthia also has a large variety of ski areas with an equally great offer.

With the Carinthian ski pass you will again find an excellent price-performance ratio for the use of over 800 kilometers of slopes in 31 ski areas in Carinthia and East Tyrol. This was confirmed by Wolfgang Löscher, managing director of the Carinthian ski pass: “We have raised the season ticket by just 13 euros in normal sales. In addition, the advance booking continues with very attractive offers at all sales outlets. But you still have to be quick - because advance booking runs until December 8th, 2021. "

Clip film "Chasing the Line"

The world premiere of the film "Klammer - Chasing the line" is eagerly awaited in Carinthia. A unique blockbuster that shows the success story of the Carinthian Olympic champion and skiing legend Franz Klammer. Together with Kärnten Werbung, Carinthia's concentrated winter sports expertise will be presented on site on October 26th. “It is time for Carinthia to be perceived even more as a winter destination! Because our offer is highly attractive and of top quality. With the film, we want to use the opportunity to underline this again and also to motivate companies to open up in winter and give their employees a year-round perspective, ”said Kapeller-Hopfgartner resolutely.

Support from the country is necessary

“Our investments benefit our guests and employees,” said the chairman of the specialist group and underlined the high relevance of the Carinthian cable cars: “We are a reliable employer who offers prospects directly on site. Despite the difficult last season, there was no lasting loss of jobs. ”From his point of view, it is all the more important that concrete steps are finally taken by politicians in the direction of an urgently needed funding framework for the upcoming replacement investments of the Carinthian cable cars. "Without public support in the form of subsidies for the construction of new facilities that have to be replaced in a few years, the Carinthian ski area diversity and our unique training facilities for the skiing legends of tomorrow cannot be maintained in this form",

Offers for schools in Carinthia

The "Adventure Week in the Snow" awakens the fun of skiing even with the youngest Carinthians. Despite Corona, the Carinthian cable cars offer was made to schools and pupils in the previous year. And of course the pupils can zoom down the slopes again this year:

Adventure week in the snow for elementary schools:

• One day between 17 and 21 January 2022
• Free day pass
• or: 3-day package for 15 euros

Registration runs until the end of December 10, 2021

Winter sports week for secondary levels I and II (NMS, PTS, ASO, AHS, BMHS, BS)at least five consecutive days that are connected with overnight stays in an away accommodation in Carinthia 40 euros for five days