Hochstein in Lienz: Ski lifts are closed - hotels and ski schools fight

Hochstein in Lienz: Ski lifts are closed - hotels and ski schools fight

in the Austrian city of Lienz, more precisely on the Hochstein, the ski lifts remain closed in the upcoming winter season 2024/25. This was communicated by the Lienzer Bergbahnen AG. The main reason is delivery bottlenecks for the required spare parts that will only arrive in March 2025. Not only the ski lifts are affected by this delay, but also the lower part of the Schlossberg as well as the combination railway and the drag lifts. Despite these challenges, an attempt is made to prepare the mountain for ski tours with enough snow, as a report by "Merkur" emphasizes.

The closure of the ski lifts is a serious threat to the local companies. Results of the current booking situation show that 80 percent of the hotel guests have already canceled their stays. "This is a great disaster for us," explains Reinhold Tiefenbacher, owner of the Moosalm Hotel, opposite ORF. Ski schools also feel the effects of this decision. Christoph Stotter from the Schlossberg ski school describes the situation as a sudden threat to existence.

economic considerations behind the closure

Franz Theurl, the supervisory board head of Lienzer Bergbahnen AG, emphasizes that the closure is necessary for economic reasons. "In summer the Schlossberg is our source of money, but in winter it is Zetterfeld," he explains. According to "Merkur", the ski systems are not possible without financial support, which makes the closure appear as a "logical" decision.

In the 2024/25 season, winter sports enthusiasts also have to adjust to higher ski pass prices. An analysis of "Schneehoehen.de" expects price increases in day tickets of five to ten percent. Especially in popular Austrian ski areas such as Kitzbühel and Sölden, price increases of up to six percent can be expected. To save money, ski passes can be purchased online in advance, which could offer discounts of up to 30 percent.

This development is not only limited to Austria; The prices are also increasing in other countries, but to a lesser extent. In Switzerland, the price for a day ski pass in Saas-Fee remains stable at CHF 79, while the price in Gitschberg Jochtal in Italy increases to 68 euros. In France, an increase of 7.6 percent is expected in the popular Espace Killy, while the Austrian ski area Hochkeil opened earlier than usual due to the large amounts of snow.

The situation around the Lienzer Bergbahnen and the closures of the ski lifts on the Hochstein is therefore a current topic of great importance for the affected region. How exactly everything will develop remains to be seen.