Austria’s Best Summer Mountain Railways Enjoy a Successful 2025 Season with Record Growth, Get the Details Here

Published on November 29, 2025

The summer of 2025 has proven to be successful in the mountain tourism industry in Austria, with the renowned Summer Mountain Railways performing better than expected, even with challenging weather conditions. The increase in number of visitors, the amplified revenues, and the growing relevance of the low/ off-season shows a positive trend in Austria’s mountain locations. The efforts of the Austrian cable car companies, especially those securing the “Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways” quality seal, have played a significant role in this success.

A Robust Summer Performance in Austrian Mountain Tourism

According to a flash survey conducted by the Austrian Cable Car Association, 72.5% of companies involved in the summer season were either satisfied or very satisfied with their results. The survey included responses from 40 industry experts, revealing robust economic outcomes. Approximately 42.5% of companies reported an increase in visitor numbers, and a significant 67.5% saw a rise in revenue. This success is largely attributed to the diversification of mountain tourism offerings and an increase in visitor satisfaction.

Kornel Grundner, spokesperson for the Best Austrian Summer Mountain Lifts, emphasized that the summer season was filled with new developments and events that attracted visitors. “Experience quality and family offerings remain the strongest drivers, while events generate additional visitors and boost added value,” Grundner explained.

New Themed Trails and Innovative Experiences

Austria’s mountain tourism sector continues to innovate, introducing new and expanded themed and adventure trails that offer visitors fresh and engaging experiences. Some of the most popular new attractions include the Grünbergbande trail, the Hopsiland Planai, and the Path of the Planets on the Kanzelhöhe. The KaiserWald, with its newly developed stations, and the Locandy audio adventure in Gerlos, were also well-received. These attractions are designed to appeal to families, adventure enthusiasts, and nature lovers, providing a mix of outdoor exploration and immersive experiences.

Additionally, events such as “Body, Mind and Mountains,” family festivals, summer concerts, alpine yoga sessions, and fondue evenings on the Zugspitze have boosted visitor numbers, helping to make the summer season even more appealing. The addition of new experience areas like the Panorama Shell on the Steinplatte and the SkyRide in Mayrhofen highlights the ongoing trend of creating high-quality, innovative offerings to attract tourists.

Autumn and Extended Operations: A Growing Trend

As summer tourism in the mountains continues to thrive, a noticeable shift towards autumn as an important season for mountain tourism is underway. In 2025, many of Austria’s summer mountain lifts extended their operating hours to accommodate rising demand during the autumn school holidays, especially from visitors in Bavaria and Austria. Some pioneers even began their summer seasons as early as March, capitalizing on the off-season and mitigating the impact of inclement weather.

Franz Hörl, Chairman of the Cable Car Association at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, confirmed that extended summer operations have been integrated into the long-term strategy for mountain tourism. “It strengthens capacity utilization, employee retention, and added value,” Hörl stated. This extended operational period, from May to November, underscores the increasing significance of autumn for mountain tourism.

Sustainability at the Core of Austrian Mountain Railways

Austria’s mountain railways are also leading the way in sustainable tourism practices, a key focus for both summer and winter operations. According to a sustainability survey conducted by the Austrian Cable Car Association, 73% of companies are actively pursuing sustainability goals, with more than half regularly measuring key performance indicators to assess their progress.

Energy efficiency is a major priority, with 85% of companies sourcing their electricity from 100% renewable sources, and 78% operating their own photovoltaic systems. Additionally, Austria’s cable car companies are collaborating at the industry level through initiatives like the “Summit Charter,” which promotes respectful behavior on the mountains. The cooperation with the KlimaTicket Ö (“One for Mountain and Valley”) program has also been successful, offering guests a 10% discount on mountain and valley rides at 52 participating businesses. These efforts contribute to promoting climate-friendly mobility and sustainable travel experiences.

Celebrating 100 Years of Cable Cars: The Outlook for 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, Austria’s cable car industry is gearing up to celebrate a historic milestone: 100 years of cable cars in Austria. The first cable cars in Tyrol, such as the Tyrolean Zugspitze cable car and the Rax cable car, began operations in 1926, marking a century of development in Austrian mountain tourism. The anniversary will be celebrated alongside the 25th anniversary of the “Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways” quality seal, a significant achievement for the sector.

The year 2026 will also see continued innovation in the sector, with new attractions like Tyrol’s first Ninja Park at 2,020 meters in Hochoetz, the expansion of the Westendorf marble run, and the barrier-free conversion of the cable car to the Hohe Salve. These developments highlight a growing focus on quality, inclusion, and diversity in mountain tourism, ensuring that visitors of all abilities can enjoy Austria’s mountain experiences.

The Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways: A Mark of Quality

In terms of prestige and recognition within Austrian mountain tourism, the ‘Best Austrian Summer Mountain Railways’ quality seal is unparalleled. The Austrian Cable Car Association, as a pilot, brings together some of the most dominant cable car companies in the country, all of whom have over one hundred quality criteria. The seal is awarded only to companies that distinguish themselves in Adventure, Family, Panorama & Nature and Culinary & Experiential Art.