No Winter Magic: Ski Resorts Struggle with Lack of Snow

Climate change has also reached the last valley. In lower altitudes, snow is more often absent than before, especially in the east of Austria. "It's a fact - some have already given up," said the spokesperson for the Hotelier Association (ÖHV), Martin Stanits, to APA. Cable car operators, hoteliers, and restaurateurs in winter sports resorts must adapt to this with new offerings - and some are already doing so. "That it's getting warmer is undisputed."

Winter Tourism Quietly Says Goodbye to Snow

Domestic winter and ski tourism has so far lived off the snow - from the atmosphere and the magic of the white landscape and the dusted villages. To maintain this, the industry has early on resisted the increasing warmth with snow-making machines. "Now it's getting even tighter," Stanits explained.

And there is a west-east gradient. Eastern Austria is clearly at a disadvantage regarding snow loss. "There were even ski lifts in Vienna and Burgenland," said the industry spokesperson, looking back at long past times and recalling a ski jump on the Red Mountain in the 13th district and the ski slope on the Hohe-Wand-Wiese in the 14th district. "Now maybe in the first week of January there is snow on the Red Mountain." And that's it.

West-East Gradient in Snowfall

Investments in ski lifts in eastern Austria "I would not make now - the heyday of ski lifts is not imminent, diplomatically put," said the spokesperson for the Austrian Hotelier Association (ÖHV). "In the west it works, because the mountains there are higher."

Regarding snow, the west of the country naturally has it a bit easier. "In Western Austria, there are higher ski resorts everywhere - they will rely on that and stick with it," the tourism expert expects. Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg continue to benefit from higher altitudes in the Alps. "That will probably remain - Obertauern and almost everything in Tyrol including Arlberg," Stanits confirmed.

Slope Availability Further Reduced by Climate Change

"The availability is about to shrink even further - to a few ski resorts," said the industry insider. "We will continue to have this, but the profitability will continue to decrease, even with shorter seasons."

But even in the West, there are noticeable changes: "Now we are sometimes also having the debate with higher areas," admitted Stanits. "You can already notice it from the hotel industry." Skiing guests are sometimes asked to drive a little further to a slightly higher slope, reported the spokesperson of the Austrian Hotel Association.

Green Valleys Lack Winter Magic

"The 'Winter Wonderland' is already missing when there is no snow further down," said Stanits. It is indeed snowed, but only up to the middle station, not further down. "If you want to capture a bit of atmosphere, it becomes more difficult." The "feeling" in the valley is missing. "It is advantageous when it is romantic and snowy down below."

Now it is necessary to react to the new facts, to further develop the offer and to broaden the base - towards all-year tourism with organic cuisine, culture, seminars, thermal baths, golfing, hiking and mountain biking. "'First Movers' have been doing this for a long time, others will follow suit," the tourism expert is convinced. This way, the cable cars and thus investments that have already been made can be used throughout the year and employees can be employed continuously.

"All of this is being rolled out across the board - so we have awakened from the shock," outlined Stanits the situation in the industry. One must "adapt the entire system, not hang on the snow," that is a huge process. Cable cars are now also equipped with mountain bike devices, not just ski racks. And the ski shops in the village often also offer bike clothing and service. "You can also go there when there is no snow and that's where it's about keeping the appropriate offer available."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.