Salzburg Cable Car Conference - Hopes For A Winter With Few Restrictions
Last winter, thanks to detailed corona prevention concepts, the cable car industry succeeded in giving its guests great winter sports experiences. Building on these findings, they want to make safe skiing possible this year too and are hoping for many foreign guests.
The decision that there should be no capacity restrictions for the ski lifts this year caused great relief for Salzburg's cable car users at the cable car conference on September 22nd in the Ferry Porsche Congress Center in Zell am See and gives them confidence for the coming winter season. "Space restrictions in the gondolas and ski lifts would have led to massive congestion in front of the lifts and thus to situations that one would definitely want to avoid in a pandemic. They also make operation uneconomical," says the spokesman for Salzburg's cable car industry, Dr. Erich Egger. With a mask requirement and the requirement that tickets can only be sold to people who can prove that they have either been vaccinated, tested or recovered, you have no problems. "As in the previous year, we will endeavor to to implement this requirement in the best possible way. The effort for this should be reasonable for the skier and not prolong the waiting times excessively. "However, he is convinced that the 3-G obligation will give the skiers an additional feeling of security. The cable car spokesman points out again that Cable car cabins are in any case much better ventilated than trains and buses. "Here, double standards are used. You are likely to be exposed to a much greater risk in a train or in the subway than in a gondola, not to mention a chairlift “, Clarifies Egger. that the 3G obligation will give skiers an extra feeling of security. The cable car spokesman points out again that cable car cabins are in any case much better ventilated than trains and buses. “Two standards are used here. In doing so, you are likely to expose yourself to a much greater risk in a train or subway than in a gondola, not to mention a chairlift, ”explains Egger. that the 3G obligation will give skiers an extra feeling of security. The cable car spokesman points out again that cable car cabins are in any case much better ventilated than trains and buses. “Two standards are used here. In doing so, you are likely to expose yourself to a much greater risk in a train or subway than in a gondola, not to mention a chairlift, ”explains Egger.
Advantage for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered
It will be easiest in the coming winter season for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, who can present the evidence that has been valid for a long time, regardless of whether they buy a weekly or seasonal ticket. On the other hand, if you only rely on the tests, it will be more complicated for you. "We assume, however, that the majority of skiers do not want these restrictions with the tests anyway and have had themselves vaccinated," says the cable car spokesman. Egger categorically rules out the possibility of test options being made available at the valley stations. He therefore appeals the policy to further intensify vaccination efforts. "It cannot be that the tourism region of Salzburg ranks last among all the federal states that are dominated by tourism in terms of vaccination rates. That is shameful!" Because if the coming winter season doesn't work, many companies will have massive problems, ”warns Egger. He points out that if Salzburg becomes a high-incidence destination, non-vaccinated people, but also children of vaccinated people, would have to go into quarantine for five days when they return to Germany. “They don't do that to themselves! But that can drastically endanger the winter season ”, Egger is convinced.
Investing in more comfort and security
Salzburg's cable car industry has made some important investments this year despite the difficult framework conditions. First and foremost, these were replacement investments for outdated systems such as the new construction of the Flying Mozart gondola lift in Wagrain. Here Snow Space Salzburg is building a ten-person gondola lift from Kirchboden to Grießenkareck, which replaces the old gondola lift from 1988. In Filzmoos, the old Mooslehenbahn is being replaced by a modern 6-seater chairlift with weather protection hoods, which shortens the journey from nine to four minutes and increases capacity. The Untersbergbahn in Grödig was subjected to a technical modernization. In addition to the revision work, the valley station was also renewed. The investment was necessary because the concession for operation will expire in 2022 and the conditions for an extension had to be met. The Zwölferhornbahn in St. Gilgen has also been completely overhauled. The 28 new, barrier-free 8-seater gondolas take guests up to the Zwölferhorn in just eleven minutes and can carry three times as many passengers as the old cable car from 1957. “The examples show that Salzburg's cable car companies make a great deal of safety and comfort improvements for their passengers every year invest. But they are also a major investment driver in the respective region, ”emphasizes Egger. The 28 new, barrier-free 8-seater gondolas bring guests up to the Zwölferhorn in just eleven minutes and can carry three times as many passengers as the old cable car from 1957. “The examples show that Salzburg's cable car companies offer their passengers a great deal of safety and comfort every year invest. But they are also a major investment driver in the respective region, ”emphasizes Egger. The 28 new, barrier-free 8-seater gondolas bring guests up to the Zwölferhorn in just eleven minutes and can carry three times as many passengers as the old cable car from 1957. “The examples show that Salzburg's cable car companies offer their passengers a great deal of safety and comfort every year invest. But they are also a major investment driver in the respective region, ”emphasizes Egger.
Focus on sustainability
In cooperation with the Denkstatt agency, Austria's cable cars want to deal more intensively with sustainability issues. “The focus here is on the mobility of our customers, for example. We want to create additional incentives for our guests to travel to the ski area by train, for example. We are currently working on appropriate winter sports combination tickets, ”explains Egger.
Good summer balance
This summer has also gone well for many mountain railways. For example, the 73 member companies across Austria with 87 experience specializations, which operate under the seal of approval “Best Austrian Mountain Railways” (an initiative of the professional association of cable cars), have recorded steady sales growth in recent years. In this year's summer season (until September 7th) there were 8.8% more first-time admissions across Austria than in the same period of the previous year. In Salzburg, too, they were satisfied with the result. “The regained opportunity to travel to Corona again was noticeable this year with many local mountain railways. In Salzburg we can offer a wide variety of activities in summer, from classic hiking to mountain bike trails to alpine summer. But September and October can still be strong months. So we hope for a golden autumn! ”Says Egger.
The seal of approval is primarily intended to support summer holidaymakers with no mountain experience in choosing their holiday destination. Mountain railways have to meet 160 quality criteria in order to be allowed to use the seal of approval. The railways can specialize in five themed areas - adventure, family, panorama & nature experience, enjoyment, art & culture - and have to be re-certified every three years.
