Economic struggles faced by renowned Austrian ski resort, nearing impending shutdown.
The Zinken lifts in the picturesque town of Hallein, Austria, are facing an existential crisis. The ski area has been unable to operate a single day during the last winter, and if no support comes from the state or investors, it could close permanently in 2027.
The financial situation of the Zinken lifts has been tense for some time now. Between 2020 and 2024, the ski area incurred losses amounting to 3.8 million euros. The concession for the chairlift expires in 2026, and a technical revision is required for an extension, which will cost several million euros. The financial situation remains tense, with high annual rent for the used areas falling due.
The city of Hallein is not standing idle in the face of this crisis. They are planning to expand their offerings, including several mountain bike trails for different difficulty levels, to strengthen the summer operation and attract new visitors. The trails will run exclusively on federal forest grounds to avoid conflicts with private landowners.
However, a simple revision is not enough to save the Zinken lifts. The city emphasizes that revenues must increase if the lifts are to continue operating. The search results do not provide the name of the private investor or the state responsible for rescuing the traditional Zinken ski area to avoid its closure until 2027.
Six other ski areas, in addition to the Zinken lifts, have had to close their doors in Austria. This trend is concerning for the Austrian ski industry, which relies heavily on winter tourism.
Elsewhere in Europe, other issues are arising. Croatia is currently dealing with a plague outbreak after 50 years, requiring caution from vacationers. In Italy, a sea giant, 18 meters long and 40 tons heavy, was stranded in a harbor. A vacationer filled up their car with fuel for 102.29 euros in Italy, only for it to break down shortly afterwards due to dangerous conditions.
Neither the responsible parties in Bad Dürrnberg nor the city of Hallein have commented on the current situation, their assessment of it, or the possibility of state support when asked by IPPEN.MEDIA. Despite this, the city of Hallein remains optimistic about the future and is hoping for a positive outcome, such as the successful implementation of mountain bike concepts in other regions.
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