ANTO Study Shows 80% Of British Winter Sports Fans Factor In Sustainability

Gliding down the slopes on a crisp winter’s day, the stunning mountainous panorama around every corner, Kaiserschmarren at a cosy hut for lunch, then more skiing before the day is rounded off by a mulled wine in a deckchair watching the sun set over snow-covered peaks. Winter sports and snow are inseparable – but are they sustainable?

• 80% of British winter sports fans say they factor in sustainability when booking their holidays
• 40% of skiiers want their children to learn how to ski BUT one in five are unaware of the potential impact of climate change on our winters
• The Austrian National Tourist Office highlights the incredible work being done by initiatives to protect our environment and the future of winter sports

The Austrian National Tourist Office  is  on a quest to highlight the amazing initiatives being put in place to ensure that skiing holidays continue for generations to come.

But why is it important to protect winter sports like skiing? The Austrian National Tourist Office has commissioned some research which found that a third (32%) of Brits ski – or have skied in the past. Nearly a third (30%) say it makes them feel free, 27% say it’s good for their mental health, a quarter (26%) says it keeps them active and one in 10 (14%) say that skiing is a big part of their life. Of the skiers who have children 40% said they want their child to learn to ski and nearly two thirds (64%) think they should learn before the age of 10.

The study also reveals that snow, skiing and other snow sports are one of Brits’ favourite parts of winter (40%). Other parts of winter that we love are cosy fireplaces (42%), warm drinks (43%), comfort food (48%) and fresh air (35%).

The research also found that one in five (20%) Brits are totally unaware of the potential impact of climate change on our winter and the risk to their holiday. Having said that, no less than 80% of British winter sports fans say they factor in sustainability considerations when booking their winter getaway.

Key projects that the Austrian National Tourist Office are showcasing supporting to help improve the future of winter sports and provide the next generations with the ability to ski on beautiful mountains across the globe include:

• SkiWelt – One of the world’s most sustainable winter resorts which uses 100% green electricity from renewable hydropower while the piste bashers are fuelled with GTL (which burns 24% less CO than regular diesel). It also has the world’s first solar-powered lift (aka the ‘Sun Lift’), heat pumps to recover waste heat from the slopes which is used to heat the lifts and snowmaking machines. And 17 storage ponds filled by snowmelt, precipitation and spring which are used for snowmaking, saving 25% in water since 2017.
• Seefeld – The first tourist region with the Austrian Ecolabel. This region, including its municipalities and infrastructure uses 100% eco-friendly electricity from hydropower and they’re expanding their photovoltaics facilities. Public transport is encouraged including a reliable ski bus services and the region’s restaurants have a strong focus on sustainable food, using local produce including game and fresh, as well as vegetarian and vegan dishes.
• Hotel Klosterbräu – an Austrian hotel run by the same family for six generations, Hotel Klosterbräu grows fruit and vegetables in its garden, its own chickens, a bee farm and 50% of its menu is vegetarian or vegan. 100% of the hotel’s electricity comes from a mix of solar, wind and hydro power while the heating runs on wood chipping fuel. The hotel also plans to build its own wood chipping plant and aims to reduces its emissions per overnight stay from 20kg to 12kg by 2030 by banning plastic bottles and reducing kitchen waste to produce compost to feed the animals.

To view information and videos about the incredible sustainability initiative click here.