Winter dream in danger: Hochstein lifts remain closed in 2024/25

Winter dream in danger: Hochstein lifts remain closed in 2024/25

In the majestic Alps of Austria, a dramatic situation has developed. Lienzer Bergbahnen AG has decided that in the winter season 2024/25 the ski lifts will stand still on the Hochstein. This news caused a lot of confusion, anger and disappointment in the small town of Lienz, because many residents had hoped that they could celebrate the Ski World Cup this winter season.

The decision to close was made, since urgently needed maintenance work on the lifts could not be completed in time. The exchange of armchair clamps at the double lift is particularly problematic. According to those responsible, however, the necessary spare parts can only be delivered in March 2025, which means that every skiing company is excluded this year. As a consequence, all twelve kilometers of slopes of the Hochstein are empty.

decline in hotel guests and economic concerns

The protests on the part of the hotel operators are unmistakable. Reinhold Tiefenbacher, owner of the Hotel Moosalm, said: "For us this is a big disaster. And for us it looks like 80 percent of the hotel guests have already canceled." This number speaks volumes and shows the far -reaching consequences of the decision. Margit Stotter, head of the Grafinhofs, added that the industry was a "hard club" that was beaten over her head.

Many companies are affected by the sudden closure of the ski lifts. Christoph Stotter from the Schlossberg ski school expressed his resentment that the news about the blocking was only communicated at the end of September. "You took my existence in one fell swoop," he said. The costs for preparatory measures in his ski school, which he had made due to the upcoming season, now prove to be senseless.

The consequences for other local business are also devastating. Christian Schiessl and Heidi Bender finally had to close their Sternalm on September 29. The two had already accepted a loss of 40,000 euros the previous year when the lifts did not go into operation in time due to renovation work.

The reasons for the decommissioning of the lifts

Despite the massive effects on the local economy, the decision to close the Lienzer Bergbahnen AG was necessary. The chairman of the supervisory board Franz Theurl said that the income in summer and winter was not sufficient to cover the high operating costs. "If you look at this from an entrepreneurial point of view, the decision is logical. And if there is no money from the public sector to cover these departures, then we cannot continue the operation in the form."

In recent years, skiing on the Hochstein has already suffered from declines, so that the closure this season could actually mean the end for some of the business activities on site. The small ski area has difficulty reaching the necessary number of visitors to bear the high costs associated with the operation.

Despite the uncertain times, there is hope: For ski tours in the region, however, the mountain is prepared in terms of sturdy at enough fresh snow. It remains to be seen whether this is sufficient to save the winter season for the locals and tourists. These developments once again show how important the winter season is for the alpine economy, and the high stone high winter is just one example of the challenges with which many ski areas are confronted in Austria.

The situation on the Hochstein throws big shadows on the upcoming months. It remains to be hoped that the region will quickly find solutions to attract tourists again and thus secure countless jobs. The pressure to react is enormous, because the dependence on the winter season is existential for many companies. Further details on the current location are available online, including at www.ruhr24.de .