The eloquent cable car boss and ÖVP spokesperson for tourism Franz Hörl, whose industry is often in the crosshairs for alleged environmental damage, is now turning the climate tables: instead of “hit” the cable cars that emit the least CO₂, a special tax should advertise for “particularly environmentally harmful forms of holiday” such as air travel, for example for city trips, but also for cruises, or immediately introduce an advertising ban for this.
Hörl could envision labeling these “particularly CO₂-relevant forms of vacation” – “such as tobacco advertising” – and clearly indicating how harmful they are to the environment, he stressed to the APA. According to Hörl, the cable cars and local tourism would follow the latter, because: “Then at least the guests will have in writing how ‘green’ the holiday is in the Austrian summer and winter season.” apply to everyone, after all it needs “equal opportunities in the market”.
Get started in a coalition
And the eloquent Zillertal hotelier and chairman of the cable car association in the Chamber of Commerce announced that he intends to get started with his demands in the coalition as well. He will “talk to the tourism spokeswoman for the green coalition partner, Barbara Neßler,” said the member of the National Council.
Hörl defends the industry and criticizes the media
Hörl did not skimp on criticizing the media when it came to reporting on the cable cars, tourism and climate change. This is often “fact-free” and is characterized by “one-sidedness”. For example, in recent days there has been a lot of news about the “white belts” in the ski resorts and “unfortunately some things have been exaggerated”. For example, snow machines are repeatedly reported as energy guzzlers.
“This is despite the fact that the Federal Environmental Service has clearly stated that all slopes are prepared and snowed on a daily basis and that the cable cars consume only 0.33 percent of the total energy needs of the republic,” the ÖVP politician emphasized, adding: ” I love this bashing of my industry that I was already accustomed to, but I wonder why people keep pointing out one of those forms of vacation that produces the least CO₂ and – as confirmed several times by the Federal Environmental Service – has a very soft has an ecological footprint, with maximum added value ‘at home’ and safeguarding many regional prosperity factors.”
Improvements on arrival and departure?
At the same time, the industry is considering how to improve the “one weak point” – guest arrivals and departures. After all, the Nightjet to the snow has replaced “CO₂ gluttony” and “day flights to ski”. “In the future, I can also imagine that we will make arrival and departure more attractive for guests and also develop discounts for them,” said the cable car boss.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
