“Public Transport Fares” Instead Of “Local Fares” For Austria’s Ski Resorts. Protect Our Winters Wants To Steer The Ticket Debate In A New Direction
With the start of the new ski season, the debate about rising ticket prices is once again taking center stage. Since the Europe-wide abolition of "local pricing," there has also been increasing discussion about how this regulation could be circumvented. Protect Our Winters Austria (POW) is now calling for a paradigm shift in the debate – away from privileges based on origin and towards local added value and relief.
A "public transport fare" model would be a clear win-win situation:
- Ski resorts are significantly reducing their indirect emissions.
- Guests are given a strong incentive to travel by bus or train.
- The traffic situation, especially in sensitive valleys, is noticeably easing.
- And: Locals as well as other guests receive legally sound, fair and sustainable price advantages.
Skiing is becoming more expensive every year, increasingly turning it into an elitist leisure activity. Even in Austria, where skiing was the number one national sport for decades, fewer and fewer people are hitting the slopes. The main reason: the high overall costs. Particularly in eastern Austria, where ticket prices are compounded by long journeys and additional expenses, the number of ski days is declining sharply. At the same time, numerous ski resorts and tourism organizations are increasingly targeting long-haul markets to attract new guests – a trend that generates more flights but not necessarily more regional economic activity. On the contrary: through international ticket alliances like EPIC or ICON, some guests pay nothing for their ski passes, while their travel significantly worsens the CO₂ footprint of the ski resorts.
POW Austria therefore presents a concrete solution: "public transport fares" linked to proof of arrival by public transport, offering a discount of 20–30% – identical to previous local resident discounts, but non-discriminatory and climate-friendly. Currently, around 70% of the emissions from an average day of skiing are generated by travel to and from the resort. This is precisely where ski resorts have the greatest leverage to effectively improve their carbon footprint.
Protect Our Winters Austria appeals to cable car operators, tourism regions and political decision-makers to seize this opportunity and make skiing more accessible, climate-friendly and sustainable.
