Price Increases Also Felt in Skiing

According to Hörl, himself the managing director of the Zillertal Arena, ski resorts must continue to calculate carefully. His ski resort refrains from "dynamic pricing" to protect families during peak times and maintains uniform prices. Other ski resorts, however, have made prices variable based on occupancy and date.

Dynamic Pricing for Skiing in the Ötztal

In Sölden in the Tyrolean Ötztal - also famous as a filming location for the James Bond film "Spectre" - a day ski pass is available in the webshop at prices that fluctuate depending on the day. Adults can plan up to 81.50 euros during the high season. Last year it was 79 euros. In Arlberg, adults also have to pay 81.50 euros in the high season (2024: 78 euros). Those who want to race down the Hahnenkamm in the luxury ski resort of Kitzbühel will pay 79.50 euros as an adult in the "premium season" (2024: 76 euros). A ski day in Axamer Lizum near the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck is comparatively cheaper - for 63 euros (2024: 60 euros).

Combined tickets like the Freizeitticket Tirol are also slightly more expensive this year. This now costs 873 euros for adults in regular sales from November 1st - 1 euro more than last year. However, during the presale running throughout October, the ticket is available for 759 euros (2024: 727 euros). The tickets can only be purchased at presale locations and not online. However, following a legal threat from the Consumer Information Association (VKI), it is now open to everyone - regardless of main residence. This compromise solution is intended to maintain the former "local prices" of the combined tickets through a detour.

Skiing in Vorarlberg's Ski World on Average 4 Percent More Expensive

In Vorarlberg, ski passes in the 2025/26 winter season will cost on average 4 percent more than last year. The Vorarlberg cable car operators cited increased costs, which are felt across all cost groups, as the reason. The prices for an adult day ski pass range from 24 euros in the small ski area Bazora-Gurtis (Frastanz or Nenzing) to 81.50 euros in Arlberg. Since the 2022/23 season, some ski areas have been using dynamic pricing. The starting price here ranges from 40.50 euros at the Montafoner Kristbergbahn in Silbertal to 56 euros in Gargellen (Montafon). For season tickets and season ticket associations, the presale, which started on October 1st, is worthwhile.

In Salzburg, the ski operation is already underway in the glacier ski area on the Kitzsteinhorn. Depending on the snow conditions, many Salzburg ski areas will start the winter season at the end of November or early December. One thing is certain here too: lift ticket prices have increased by 2 to 4.5 percent compared to the previous winter and are already approaching the 80-euro mark in some cases.

Higher Personnel and Energy Costs Make Skiing More Expensive

The price increases are justified by the spokesperson for the Salzburg cable car industry, Erich Egger, as well as his colleagues in the other federal states, primarily with high personnel and energy costs. In larger ski areas with "ski swings," a day pass for adults in the high season costs between 69.50 euros in Obertauern and 79 euros in the Pinzgau region of the "Ski Alpin Card" with Kitzsteinhorn, Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, and Schmittenhöhe.

In Ski amadé, the price for a day pass at the cash desk is mainly 78.50 euros. Prices are slightly lower at some individual lift facilities in this area. In the Salzburg Sports World with Snow Space Flachau, Wagrain, St. Johann, Zauchensee, Flachauwinkl, and Kleinarl, you have to pay 79 euros for the day pass. In smaller ski areas, you pay less, such as in the "Almenwelt Lofer" in Pinzgau. There, the day pass for adults in the "top season," such as during the Christmas holidays, costs 65 euros. In the low season, skiing is often cheaper.

For families, lift operators have put together special offers, and there are discounts with the family pass. Some regions, for example in Ski amadé, offer an online early booking bonus. Season tickets have only become on average 2 percent more expensive compared to the previous year.

Mini Slope for Skiing in Carinthia for 8 Euros per Day

In Carinthia, adults can ski for a day this year for under 70 euros. "In the larger ski areas, adult day passes cost a maximum of 69.50 euros. To my knowledge, Carinthia is the only federal state where all prices are below 70 euros," said Josef Bogensperger, chairman of the cable car specialist group of the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce, in response to an APA inquiry.

On average, prices in the state are 3 to 5 percent higher than last year. The ski areas Nassfeld and Katschberg are found in the upper price range - but a new cable car has also been invested in there. At Goldeck, the day pass costs 61.50 euros this year, in the smaller family ski area Kötschach-Mauthen, you can enjoy the slopes for 40 euros, and if a small slope with a drag lift is enough, you can make your turns in Mühldorf for just 8 euros per day.

The season pass for Carinthia and East Tyrol costs 774 euros in advance sales until November 1st and 841 euros in regular sales. In addition, there are also affordable family offers on day or multi-day passes, as well as the chance for cheaper tickets through "Dynamic Pricing" in the Heiligenblut ski area. According to Bogensperger, there are no major innovations in this season. If the weather permits, the ski area at the Dreiländereck Austria-Italy-Slovenia, which went bankrupt last year and reopened this year, will also transport winter sports enthusiasts to the mountain again.

Skiing on Styrian Slopes from 32.50 Euros

The probably best-known Styrian ski area, the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen in Schladming and surroundings, will adopt the prices from the Ski amadé network in the upcoming season as they did last year. Online early bookers can thus secure lift tickets cheaper, as was the case last year. At Kreischberg, the day ski pass is expected to cost 68 euros in the coming peak season, which is 3 euros more than last year. Slightly cheaper, skiing can be done on Tauplitz for 59 euros per day ticket for an adult, and one of the cheapest day tickets will be available in the coming season at Teichalm. The day pass for adults will cost 32.50 euros there in the coming season, which is 1.50 euros more than last year. At Kaiserau, the day ski pass will cost 36 euros in the coming winter, up from 34 euros previously.

In Upper Austria, "Dynamic Pricing" applies in the ski areas Hinterstoder, Wurzeralm, and Hochficht. In Hinterstoder, if you buy online now, you can acquire a day pass outside the peak season for as low as 44.50 euros, and for Wurzeralm and Hochficht, each for 41 euros. The lower limit corresponds to that of last season. Depending on the day, the price increases significantly. During the Christmas holidays, for example, a day pass currently costs 54 euros for Hinterstoder, 50 euros for Wurzeralm, and 51 euros for Hochficht.

Dachstein and Kasberg with Fixed Prices for Skiing

Dachstein-West and Kasberg do not have dynamic prices; here, the cost for an adult day pass online is 65 euros for Dachstein-West and 54 euros online and 58 euros at the counter for Kasberg.

In Lower Austria, the adult season pass "NÖ Bergerlebnispass" for ten ski areas costs 410 euros in the "Super Pre-Sale" until October 31st, which is 2.5 percent more than last year. "We are already entering the fourth winter season with flexible prices," said Markus Redl, managing director of the state-owned ecoplus Alpin GmbH, which includes Annaberger Lifte, Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen, Hochkar Bergbahnen, and Ötscherlifte. The online share is 60 percent. Adult day passes are offered from 32.90 euros. According to Redl, the general rule is: "The earlier you book, the cheaper." Whether and how much the rates increase depends on the demand for the respective ski area. "At the suggestion of the Chamber of Labor Lower Austria, we have introduced greater transparency in our flexible prices. Potential customers now automatically receive an assessment of the price currently offered for a specific day or period," informed Redl.

(APA/Red)

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