Europe
2022.12.17 01:29 GMT+8

Austrian ski season starts with increased prices and slower lifts

Updated 2022.12.18 20:03 GMT+8
Johannes Pleschberger in Zauchensee

In Austria, ski ticket prices have risen by 10 percent this year  – much to the dismay of local and foreign tourists.

"68 Euros ($72) for one day is a little bit too much honestly," says Renata Brown while waiting at the cash counter in Zauchensee, Austria's most expensive resort located not far from Salzburg.

Across Austria most day passes now cost above $60, in Zauchensee the price is at $72./CGTN/Andreas Gasser

Raising ski pass prices is just one of several measures resorts have had to employ to cope with the country's record 11 percent inflation.

"The costs for the ski resorts have also increased drastically," Zauchensee resort manager Veronika Scheffer told CGTN. "The energy prices rose by five times, the diesel prices doubled."

As soon as there are less people on the chairlift, the speed is lowered from 5 meters per second to 3 meters per second./CGTN/Andreas Gasser

In the past few years, Scheffer invested in new snow cannons that require only half the electricity of previous models. But further cost cutting is required.

"There will be no heating of chairlifts or terraced areas and the lifts are running 2 meters per second slower, depending on the occupancy rate," she adds.

Zauchensee is part of Austria's largest skiing area offering 760 kilometers of slopes./CGTN/Andreas Gasser

Austria's ski resorts are eligible for state subsidies of up to $26 million if they can meet government goals on saving energy. 

What's unclear is whether enough skiers will come out to enjoy the slopes given the high prices, not only of the lifts, but their own basic food and energy costs.

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