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The Tyrolean cable car and ski area program provides fuel. ÖAV and DAV argue with the state government and demand resistance.
Innsbruck – ski madness in Tyrol. At least that’s what opponents of the Tyrolean cable car and ski area program (TSSP) fear. The dispute between Alpine clubs and the state government over the basic rules for the construction of new cable cars and ski slopes has been raging for years. At the end of 2024, the old regulation in Austria will expire and the plans of the ÖVP and SPÖ could take effect. The review period ended on Friday (May 17th).
Dispute over ski areas in Tyrol: “Marketing stunt intended to calm the conscience of skiers”
Specifically, the TSSP regulates which criteria new construction projects in the Alps must meet in order to be approved. And from the point of view of the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV) and the German Alpine Association (DAV), they are far too lax. The organizations fear a “wave of development” in Tyrol. Large expansion projects such as the Hochoetz-Kühtau or Hochfügen-Tux mergers could become reality with the new TSSP regulation.
The state government is putting economic interests before the protection of the Alps, criticizes the ÖAV. He accuses those responsible of fraudulent labeling. “It is true that the TSSP draft states that new developments are not permitted. “But this is simply a marketing gimmick intended to calm the conscience of skiers,” said ÖAV lawyer and nature conservation officer Liliana Dagostin.
ÖAV and DAV criticize plans for ski areas in Tyrol – WWF also comments
In the meantime, more than 170,000 people have submitted a petition against the Pitztal-Öztal glacier merger, ÖAV and DAV now remind. The killing argument about the prosperity that tourism brings has had its day. “Fewer and fewer people are willing to accept this argument as a justification for any construction project relevant to tourism,” says the recent statement IPPEN.MEDIA is present.
New developments are theoretically impossible, but there are no expansion limits for existing ski areas. And from the point of view of conservationists, glacier protection is clearly neglected. The WWF has also already expressed criticism of the TSSP regulations. “Tyrol must protect its last intact Alpine areas and preserve gentle and sustainable tourism instead of sacrificing them forever to unrestricted expansion,” said WWF Alpine protection spokeswoman Ann-Kristin Winkler.
“Ignore the voice of the population”: Alpine clubs demand adjustment of the TSSP
The ÖAV and DAV make it clear that the state government is acting against the will of the population. “Both spatial planning programs – both the cable car and ski area program with its constant erosion of the concept of new development and the euphemistic glacier protection program – ignore not only the most pressing problems of our time, but also the mood of the population,” write the Alpine clubs. “Those who are affected – namely the local residents – must now defend themselves!” said the ÖAV chairman Gerald Aichner months ago.
The demand: fixed final expansion limits and the restoration of absolute glacier protection. “The TSSP in its current version is not a contemporary instrument for regulating ski tourism development in Tyrol,” emphasize the Alpine clubs, “we advocate a corresponding revision of the program.”
How heated the winter sports debate in Tyrol is was recently shown by the outburst of Kaunertal mayor Christian Kalsberger. He described the interference of conservationists as “totally annoying” and said he “no longer understands” foreigners who interfere in the projects of locals. There are plans in town to develop the previously undeveloped Gepatschferner and thus expand the Kaunertal ski area. (moe)
#ÖAV #DAV #Residents #defend