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Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) Cable Car Association – Hörl on tourism success in 2025: “Closely linked to strong tourist offerings and modern infrastructure”

Following the presentation of the 2025 tourism report, the Austrian cable car association within the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) emphasizes the important role of the industry for the positive development of domestic tourism.

A record-breaking winter season, the increasing importance of summer tourism, and high investments in sustainable infrastructure make cable cars a key success factor for Austria's tourism industry.

The figures in the Austrian Tourism Report 2025 impressively confirm the strength of Austria as a tourist destination. With 157.3 million overnight stays and 48.2 million guest arrivals, the previous year's results were once again surpassed. For Franz Hörl, Chairman of the Austrian Cable Car Association, one thing is clear: "This outstanding development is also the result of a high-performing tourism infrastructure. Austria's cable cars make a significant contribution to this and are the foundation for added value, employment, and tourist appeal in many regions."

The development in winter tourism is particularly encouraging. Domestic cable car companies recorded around 54 million first-time visitors in the 2025/26 winter season, achieving one of the best results in their history. This represents an increase of approximately four percent compared to the previous year.

This puts the industry back on par with the peak years before the pandemic and once again confirms its international competitiveness. At the same time, the early start to the season, thanks to modern and energy-efficient snowmaking technologies, secured millions of overnight stays and generated more than one billion euros in added value for the tourist regions.

Cable cars – catalysts for entire regions, far more than mere means of transport.

“The excellent tourism figures show how closely the success of Austrian tourism is linked to strong tourist offerings and modern infrastructure. Our cable cars are far more than mere means of transport. They are catalysts for entire regions and create the conditions for guests to experience Austria as an attractive holiday destination all year round,” said Hörl.

Summer is also becoming increasingly important. Austrian cable cars are evolving into a year-round offering, providing guests with access to nature, outdoor activities, and mountain experiences well beyond the winter season. Demand for alpine summer activities is growing steadily, making the cable car season a significant driver of revenue and overnight stays for many regions.

Looking ahead to the upcoming tourism strategy “Vision T”, Hörl sees the industry on the right track. “Sustainability has long been an indispensable part of our operations. Across all sectors, Austria’s cable car companies are among the pioneers in the use of renewable energies and are continuously investing in energy-efficient technologies.”

At the same time, it shows that sustainability and economic success are not mutually exclusive. Our industry generates enormous added value in tourism and requires only around 0.3 percent of Austria's total energy consumption,” Hörl emphasizes.

Internationally, Austria's cable cars have maintained their leading position for years. "Austria's cable car industry consistently ranks among the top three worldwide and is considered a technological and quality benchmark in many areas. This international leadership not only strengthens winter tourism but also increasingly summer and year-round tourism in our regions," notes Franz Hörl, Chairman of the Trade Association.

He is convinced: "If Austria is among the most successful tourist destinations in Europe today, it is also thanks to the cable cars. They create experiences, secure jobs, strengthen regional value creation and combine economic success with sustainable development. We as an industry can be proud of that."