Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler Says Austrian Ski Areas Are Fit For The Future

“Climate change poses challenges for all ski destinations across Europe and requires sustainable and future-oriented solutions. “The scientific confirmation that Austria is already a pioneer in this area and that skiing will continue to be possible in the coming decades is all the more pleasing,” said Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler on the occasion of the recently published study on the future of Europe’s ski areas.

The French-Austrian study comes to the conclusion that many ski areas in Austria have already prepared for a temperature increase of two degrees Celsius compared to other European countries and that with 50 percent technical snowmaking, only around three percent of Austrian ski areas are at high risk There would be little snow - at four degrees Celsius it would be 38 percent of the Austrian ski areas. The study also states that technical snowmaking only contributes a relatively small part to CO2 emissions.

In Austria, the share of renewable energy sources in tourism rose to 55 percent between 2008 and 2020. The share of winter tourism is only 0.9 percent of Austria's total energy consumption (catering, accommodation, snowmaking, slope preparation, cable cars). In addition, almost 90 percent of the energy used in technical snowmaking comes from renewable energy sources. Storage reservoirs also ensure that meltwater from your own ski area can be returned. Thanks to technical innovations, the cable cars have also been able to save an additional 20 percent in energy over the past ten years.

“It is important that all tourism providers are aware of their responsibility and pursue the same goal: the sustainable and environmentally friendly use of the Alpine region. Austrian tourism has already taken many important steps here and is continually working to become even more sustainable,” said Kraus-Winkler.