Slovenia’s €60 Million Bet on Kanin: Can a High-Altitude Ski Resort Find a New Future?
14/October/2026
For nearly three years, the high-alpine plateau above the Soča Valley has stood eerily quiet. Kanin, Slovenia’s highest ski resort and its sole cross-border ski hub, was grounded in autumn 2023 when its aging, 1970s-era gondola failed to pass mandatory safety inspections. The shutdown cut off access to slopes reaching above 2,200 meters and severed the iconic lift link to Sella Nevea on the Italian side of the Julian Alps.
Now, a major public-private rescue plan is breathing new life into the idle resort. The Slovenian government is committing up to €60 million ($67 million) over the next three years to rebuild Kanin’s lift infrastructure, backed by a planned €25 million ($28 million) private capital injection from South Tyrolean ropeway specialist Leitner.
The combined push sets the stage for a comprehensive overhaul estimated at nearly €100 million, aimed at restoring winter operations and securing a year-round mountain tourism economy for the Soča region.
From Standstill to Strategy: Why Kanin Couldn't Be Left Behind
Unlike lower-elevation European ski areas struggling with shrinking snowpacks and warming winters, Kanin’s main challenge has never been a lack of snow. Sitting above 2,000 meters, the resort regularly captures heavy alpine snowfall and boasts a vertical drop exceeding 1,000 meters.
However, operational neglect and administrative friction brought the resort to a sudden stop in late 2023:
Safety Red Flags: After decades of service, the main access circular gondola running out of Bovec reached the end of its operational permit.
Economic Strain: The closure cost local businesses thousands of bed-nights and temporarily ended one of the region's rare cross-border ski experiences.
The Italian Contrast: While Kanin sat dormant, its Italian neighbor Sella Nevea continued modernizing its infrastructure—including a new €5 million chairlift—underscoring the urgency for Slovenia to restore its side of the mountain.
A €100 Million Master Plan
The revitalization package combines state support with industrial expertise to turn the resort into a resilient, year-round asset:
Investment Source | Amount | Focus & Scope |
Slovenian State Budget | €60 Million | Modernizing primary cable transport and essential mountain infrastructure over a 3-year timeline. |
Leitner (Private Investor) | ~€25 Million | Ropeway engineering, new lift systems, and operational technology. |
Total Project Scope | ~€100 Million | Full overhaul including cross-border lift restoration, eco-friendly summer amenities, and high-capacity access. |
Restoring the Cross-Border Alps
The core objective of the project is to re-establish the seamless connection between Slovenia and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy. When connected, Kanin–Sella Nevea offers one of the most distinctive alpine terrains in Southern Europe, allowing skiers to transition between Italian and Slovenian slopes on a single pass.
Local leaders in the Municipality of Bovec view the government funding and private partnership as a turning point after years of uncertainty. The project aims not only to restore winter skiing, but also to build out summer mountain biking, hiking, and eco-tourism routes to establish Kanin as a stable, four-season mountain resort.
