However, the cost increases in the two largest ski areas in Upper Austria “cannot be passed on to customers one-to-one”. The season ticket was eight percent more expensive this year. The advance sale that started in October is already at the pre-corona level (2019).
According to Holzinger, the increases in day tickets also remained below the consumer price index. Such a card will cost online in the coming season – there is a five percent discount here – for Hinterstoder 52 euros, for the Wurzeralm 49 euros. According to the head of the HiWu, the proportion of lift tickets purchased via the web shop was 25 percent last season.
In order to reduce the energy cost factor, the HiWu boss wants to save ten to 15 percent in consumption.
Ten percent more expensive in Lower Austria
In winter 2022/23, ski tourists in Lower Austria have to be prepared for season tickets that are around ten percent more expensive. ecoplus Alpin GmbH has already published the prices, said managing director Markus Redl. A decision is still pending on day and multi-day tickets. “We are waiting for more information about the general conditions.”
The increase in season tickets is “as in all of Austria in the area of the consumer price index,” said Redl. The prices for day and multi-day tickets would be announced at the beginning of the season (around December 8th, note).
According to Redl, there are “two adjustment screws” when it comes to saving energy. On the one hand, snow production is to be made more efficient than before, and on the other hand, it is about the way in which lifts are operated. Not every climbing aid has to be in operation all the time. Of course, the guest’s experience should not be limited, emphasized Redl.
Styria: Day pass on the Planai between 58 and 68 euros
Styrian ski resort operators are preparing for the winter with a range of possible energy-saving measures. At the Planai-Hochwurzenbahnen in Schladming, Managing Director Georg Bliem hopes for five percent less electricity and fuel consumption: “But we have already saved 20 percent of energy through measures over the past ten years,” he said in the APA interview. In the Riesneralm ski area, an investment was made in a hydroelectric power plant.
But the ticket prices have become noticeably more expensive: the day ticket on the Planai will cost between 58 and 68 euros next winter – depending on how early you book and buy it. The Planai is thus integrated into the Ski amadé early booking system. An adult who buys his day ticket in the morning when the lift starts operating will, according to the information, pay 68 euros next winter.
Significant price increase also in Salzburg
In the federal state of Salzburg, ski and snowboard fans will have to reckon with significant increases in lift prices in the coming winter. However, the sound barrier of 70 euros for the day ticket is not broken.
Almost all Salzburg ski areas are now represented in the two large tariff associations. This is how the tickets of the “Alpine Card” in the “Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm/Leogang/Fieberbrunn”, on the Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See and on the Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun. Here the ticket prices will increase by 6.5 to eleven percent compared to last winter, according to Egger, CEO of the Schmittenhöhebahn AG.”We already set the price for the annual pass for the Alpin Card in April, so there will be an increase of 6.5 percent,” explained the manager.This means that 692 euros must be paid in advance for the winter ticket this year from December 9, it will cost EUR 824. The increase for the day ticket is almost ten percent higher, in the main season it is available for EUR 66 this year, compared to EUR 60.50 last year.
Ski pass prices in Ski amadé, which includes 760 kilometers of pistes and 270 lifts in five ski regions and 25 ski resorts in Salzburg and neighboring Styria (Schladming area), will increase by around nine percent on average. “That’s in the area of inflation,” explained managing director Christoph Eisinger when asked by APA. The day ticket prices vary in Ski amadé depending on the ski area. The price range for the large ski areas is from 55 euros to 68.50 euros for an adult day pass. In the smaller ski areas, a day ticket is available from as little as 45 euros. With the new online early booking system, guests can obtain a ski pass (day and multi-day ski passes) at a lower price than the ticket price, depending on the time of purchase and demand. Ski passes with a validity period of two days or more are valid throughout Ski amadé. The ticket price for a six-day ticket for adults is 334 euros (seven days: 372 euros).
The Ski amadé winter season ticket, which will be called “ALL-IN Card White” from 2022/23, costs 706 euros for adults in advance, the normal price is 754 euros. Guests who have owned a winter season ticket in the past two years receive a special loyalty bonus.
Holidays in Tyrol “in demand” despite higher ticket prices
In Tyrol’s winter tourism, there is still a demand for skiing holidays despite rising lift ticket prices. According to the head of the Tyrolean Economic Association and Cable Car Franz Hörl, ticket prices should rise between seven and eight percent on average, he told the APA. The potential for energy savings, on the other hand, is up to twelve percent, and Hörl said they were “aware of this responsibility”. In any case, the Tirol Tourist Board was “confident” for the season.
However, the pricing is “a matter for the companies and associations”, emphasized Tyrol’s top cable car operator. The up to eight percent is below the current inflation rate. In the ski area of St. Anton in the Tyrolean Oberland – the largest contiguous winter sports area in Austria – ticket prices will rise at an above-average rate this winter. A day ticket will be around ten percent more expensive, the price will rise from 61 euros to 67 euros, according to the Arlberger Bergbahnen. However, it was still unclear “at the present time” where and how much energy would be saved. But you will “of course implement energy saving measures”.
Carinthian ticket prices increase by eight percent
The prices in the Carinthian ski areas will be increased by an average of eight percent. As division chairman Manuel Kapeller-Hopfgartner said, companies have 15 to 20 percent cost increases, but these cannot be fully passed on to customers. Energy efficiency measures have already been implemented in recent years, but this year the cable cars will step up their efforts again.
The cable cars do not want to save on the offer. Opening times should neither be shortened nor should individual lifts remain switched off. Adult day tickets will cost 56.50 euros at Nassfeld and in Bad Kleinkirchheim, 59 euros at the Mölltaler Gletscher ticket office, 56 euros on the Gerlitze and 54.50 euros on the Turracherhöhe. It is cheaper in smaller ski areas, for example at the Klippitztörl with 40.50 euros.
Source: Nachrichten
