The mountains are not a particularly good motif for postcards at the moment. Instead of winter idyll and fun on the slopes, skiers struggle down to the valley on narrow snow tires. This is due to the current phase of warm weather, which has been melting the Austrian slopes since Christmas – reported the “Krone”.
Given the ongoing climate change, it is unlikely that the situation will improve in the future. The end of winter sports in the once proud skination? “No”, says futurologist and tourism researcher Prof. Peter Zellmann, “skiing will develop from a popular and mass sport into a quality sport.” And the classic ski holiday will move to the luxury segment.
Even now, only 25 percent of Austrians go on a ski holiday, but “this potential remains unimpressed by climate, inflation and energy crises,” says the expert. Thanks to technical snow cannons, holidays at altitudes above 1600 meters will remain relatively safe in the future.
However, it will be difficult for the ski areas below, even though there have been weather situations such as the current one around the turn of the year 2006/2007.
Ski holidays are increasingly becoming a luxury item
However, in the future you will have to dig even deeper into your pockets for winter sports. And in return, holidaymakers can expect something – among other things, that there are no waiting times at the lifts, the slopes are in order and, above all, safe – simply luxury.
By the way: 60 percent of Austrians never ski, cross-country ski or ski tour. This share will increase slightly in the coming years. Due to the higher prices, however, this will hardly have any effect on the total added value.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
