Bavaria Will Continue Its Proven Funding Program For Existing Passenger Cable Cars In Its Basic Form

From the beginning of 2026, Bavaria will continue its proven funding program for existing passenger cable cars in its basic form. Technical snowmaking systems will no longer be eligible for this funding. The cable car guidelines will remain valid for another four years, thus ensuring stable conditions for a modern, safe, and sustainable tourism infrastructure in Bavaria's mountain and low mountain regions.

On the occasion of the continuation of the guidelines, Bavaria's Tourism Minister Michaela Kaniber emphasized the great importance of cable cars for Bavaria: "Cable cars open up our state. They connect people with our unique mountain and natural landscape and are therefore indispensable for Bavaria as a tourist destination. We will therefore continue to financially support the technical renewal and modernization of our cable cars in the future." She continued: "Cable cars not only open up our unique mountain and natural landscape to locals and visitors. They also offer families with small children, the elderly, and people with mobility impairments carefree moments high up in the mountains."

The cable car guidelines have been an important instrument for promoting tourism infrastructure since 2009. They support existing cable car operators in technically renewing and modernizing their systems. This includes investments in safety systems, environmental standards, energy efficiency, and the technical condition of the equipment. Funding is available exclusively to already approved and existing passenger cable cars.

"We are giving cable car operators planning security and sending a clear signal for a sustainable year-round tourism industry. Modern facilities, reliable technology and high quality are indispensable for Bavaria – we are creating the right framework for this," Kaniber explains the continuation of the guidelines.

"The Bavarian cable car funding program focuses on the sensible use of cable car facilities in both winter and summer. I still believe it makes economic sense to secure the winter season with the help of snowmaking, even though our guidelines will no longer include funding for these ancillary facilities in the future," explains Kaniber.

With a multiplier of five, cable cars are also a significant economic factor: Every euro generated by cable car companies generates a total of around five euros for businesses in the region – from mountain inns to regional hotels. "Cable cars are an engine for regional economic strength," said the minister. The cable car guidelines thus strengthen not only the tourist appeal but also the economic foundation of entire communities.

For locals, Bavaria's cable car systems represent a piece of tradition. For visitors, they have been a highlight in the Bavarian Alps and low mountain ranges for many decades. The guidelines help to preserve the diversity of Bavaria's cable car infrastructure – from traditional systems in the Alps to regionally important railways in the low mountain ranges. They also create reliable conditions for year-round tourism, which is becoming increasingly important.

"Cable cars are an integral part of Bavarian identity. They combine tradition with modernity and demonstrate how much Bavaria values ​​its unique features. Every euro invested in modernizing our cable cars strengthens the regions, creates safe facilities, and opens up countless opportunities for nature experiences for everyone. This is precisely what makes Bavaria, our tourist destination, so special," Kaniber concluded.

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