KitzSki In Summer: More Offers For Cycling Families And Downhill Beginners
To stimulate summer tourism, the Bergbahn Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel Tourismus and the Kitzbüheler Alpen – Brixental Tourist Association as well as the Kitzbühel municipality and the municipality of Kirchberg have joined forces to form the BIKE ARGE association. 1.2 million euros will be spent in 2023 to create an attractive range of bike trails at medium altitude from Brixen im Thale to Mittersill. The expansion takes place under the premise of harmony on the mountain of all those involved or the common brand umbrella "Green Mountains". The process is accompanied by Allegra Tourismus Österreich GmbH and supported by the LEADER program from the state of Tyrol.
Kitzbuehel. The target group of mountain bikers among guests and locals, as well as the demand for family-friendly trails, is growing, as Mag. Christian Wörister, director of the Kitzbühel cable car and chairman of the BIKE ARGE association, knows. A trend that is reflected in tourism research figures: According to the Allensbach Institute for Demoscopy, 16.03 million Germans enjoy mountain biking in their free time. 11 percent of summer guests spend their holidays in Tyrol to go mountain biking. The proportion of guests from Italy and Switzerland is above average (source: Tirol Tourism Research, ttr.tirol).
“Our cable cars – an essential part of the infrastructure – are already in place and are still mainly used by hikers in summer. Now it's about expanding the range of lifts and the network of paths for our bike-loving guests and promoting harmonious coexistence," says Mag. Christian Wörister.
When it comes to biking, the BIKE ARGE sees a need to catch up in the region and orients itself in the design of the projects to the bike offer of the best destinations in Europe and America. “Easy and moderately difficult trails and a skill park are currently being planned. The measures are discussed in advance with everyone involved - forest, hunting, property owners, the municipality and the state of Tyrol - and then implemented professionally and quickly."
BIKE ARGE responds to the needs of locals and guests
Mag. Stefan Pühringer, deputy managing director of Kitzbühel Tourism, knows the importance of a good bike infrastructure, especially since the bicycle trade shows the tourism potential with strongly increasing sales figures. “Over the last few years, we have worked intensively on the expansion of modern bike offers across the entire arc of the Alps. Strong destination brands grow from the inside out - under this credo we in the BIKE ARGE will work together consistently on a qualitative, young and contemporary bike product in the next few years," adds Mag. Stefan Pühringer.
Expansion of the KitzBike Trails
The Brixental region with its three towns of Brixen im Thale, Kirchberg and Westendorf is already well established as a bike region. In addition to other popular trails, the Fleckalmtrail in Kirchberg, one of the "Greatest Trails in Tyrol", is an absolute showcase project, says Christoph Stöckl, Managing Director of the Kitzbüheler Alpen - Brixental Tourist Association. “Our region is also known for the 'KitzAlpBike' bike event, which takes place every year at the end of June. We are constantly investing in the expansion of the bike infrastructure - some attractive projects are being developed as part of the newly created BIKE ARGE," says Mag. Christoph Stöckl. For example, the construction work on the popular Filzenscharte-Stangenjoch circular tour: Since the summer of 2022, a gently sloping gravel path has replaced the push/carry section in the immediate vicinity of the Stangenjoch. This measure is intended to prepare for the expansion of Kitzbike Epic to Mittersill.
improvement of quality
The city of Kitzbühel attaches particular importance to expanding the infrastructure for cyclists on the mountains and in the valley, confirms Hermann Huber, the transport officer in the municipality of Kitzbühel. "As a community representative, I see the efforts of the BIKE ARGE as a great opportunity for the region. It must be clear to all of us that tourism was the main factor that brought prosperity to our region. If the expansion of the infrastructure achieves an extension of the summer season and an increase in bed occupancy, this will create new and attractive jobs for the region and secure existing ones in the long term. As the largest landowner on the Hahnenkamm, the city of Kitzbühel is happy to contribute to the success of these efforts,” explains Hermann Huber.
About the association BIKE ARGE
The BIKE ARGE is dedicated to a cross-regional strategy for the implementation of soft mobility. Particular attention is paid to guiding guests in the valley and on the mountain. The members of the BIKE ARGE include the Bergbahn Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel Tourismus and the Tourismusverband Kitzbüheler Alpen – Brixental as well as the municipality of Kitzbühel and the municipality of Kirchberg. Companies from the Kirchberg and Kitzbühel area can join the BIKE ARGE as sponsoring members.
The following board members represent BIKE ARGE externally: Mag. Christian Wörister (Chairman), Mag. Christoph Stöckl (Chairman Deputy), Ludwig Götzendorfer (Chairman Deputy)
