After a one-year hiatus, during which numerous Austrian ski resorts were accessible only to local skiers, with closed restaurants and other hospitality facilities and practically without any other amenities, Austrian tourism professionals have enthusiastically engaged in preparing for the upcoming ski season 2021/2022, which they believe will resemble the years preceding the Covid pandemic. Last week, two well-known ski destinations, favored by Croatian skiers, were presented to Croatian journalists and tourism professionals: the ski resort Obertauern and the ski region Ski amade, which unites five regions (Salzburger Sportwelt, Schladming, Gastein, Hochkeinig, and Grossartal) into one ski entity.
It is true that the conditions under which skiers will be able to use Austrian ski resorts are not yet fully known, as the Austrian government will soon announce the measures under which this will be possible. However, it is certain that the ski resorts will be open to all skiers, that hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities will operate, but also that everything will take place under strictly controlled conditions, which among other things includes mandatory vaccination certificates (or certificates of recovery from Covid, or in the absence of that, a fresh PCR test), as well as masks in enclosed spaces (and gondolas).
Austrians have long understood that in addition to snow and ski slopes, they must provide their guests with additional amenities, which will not only encourage greater spending but also attract those who do not ski to winter resorts. Therefore, in addition to a very rich hospitality offer, they strive every year to design additional activities, from tobogganing, horse-drawn carriage rides, to a range of adventurous activities, such as skiing and paragliding or biking on snow.
However, they have prepared especially for this season, partly because last season was missed, and it is certain that many skiers, due to the relentless pandemic, will be in doubt about whether to go skiing or not. Therefore, the Ski amade region alone has invested more than 66 million euros in preparing for the new season over the past year, two new lifts have been built, and many old ones have been modernized, more mountains are being connected by ski lifts and gondolas to increase the number of slopes that can be skied without taking buses or cars, and numerous new amenities have been designed. Thus, throughout the five to six ski months, there is practically no week in the Ski amade region or Obertauern without some special event, such as special ski weeks for youth or children, tastings of local products, special races for amateur skiers, or treasure hunts (with the grand prize being an expensive BMW) in Obertauern. Representatives of the Ski amade region proudly told Croatian journalists that this region has been declared the most innovative in designing additional tourist amenities and using technology for three consecutive years.
