Winter sports resorts want to score all year round - new offers

A marble run for children, an indoor adventure world or more mountain bikes: Saxony's winter sports resorts are planning further investments and want to score points with tourists regardless of the weather. Because snow reliability is decreasing in low mountain regions, more offers are needed for every season, according to the Ministry of Tourism in Dresden. These are primarily aimed at families with children. The 7.2 million euros from the current "Year-round Tourism" program have been fully exhausted.

"The focus of the approvals to date has been on the winter tourism regions in the Ore Mountains and Vogtland," said the ministry. It is about tourism offers, regardless of snow - whether natural or from a snow cannon. Projects were also approved in the districts of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Mittelsachsen, Nordsachsen and Bautzen. "Here, too, the focus is on active tourism offers that can be used all year round if possible," explains a spokesperson. Tourism Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) plans to hand over several funding decisions this week.

She was expected in Eibenstock (Erzgebirgskreis) with Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) on Tuesday. A hotel there will receive 427,500 euros for an indoor play adventure world for families. According to the ministry, it will be available as a bad weather alternative and as a new highlight for locals and tourists alike during the winter months when there is little snow.

The winter sports resort of Schöneck in the Vogtland region is delighted to receive over 730,000 euros. This will be used to build a barrier-free children's hiking trail with a marble run, said Managing Director Jennifer Braun from the operating company of the local bike and ski world. An adventure area with a tubing track is also planned. "These are two oversized slides from which children and adults jump into a kind of air cushion." The opening is scheduled for this year. The funding decision is to be handed over on Wednesday.

In addition, the LGO lift company in Oberwiesenthal (Erzgebirgskreis) will receive 282,000 euros for the expansion of a so-called Jump & Slide Park. And the K1 Sporthotel there will receive a good 122,000 euros to boost active tourism in summer.