Willingen/Gersfeld (dpa/lhe) - In Hesse's ski areas, plans are underway as to how energy can be saved in winter in view of the impending energy crisis. "It will be an economically difficult winter," said Jörg Wilke, spokesman for the largest Hessian ski area in Willingen (district of Waldeck-Frankenberg). "We have to save and become even more efficient."
The biggest energy guzzlers are the cable cars, which are up to 1,500 meters long. "They are already well positioned in terms of efficient energy use and saving," said Wilke. Nevertheless, he sees savings potential - especially in the speed of the lifts. That will be throttled this winter.
Among other things, two energy-saving snow cannons have been purchased on the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön, said Jeremias Kümpel, management consultant at Wiegand Erlebnisberge GmbH. However, the current cost increases for electricity, heating oil, diesel and Co. as well as for the staff could not be compensated for with this. "We therefore have to raise our ticket prices by ten to twelve percent this season." That is still very moderate given the situation.
Also in Willingen the tickets are getting more expensive. "We will raise the prices, but certainly not in the way that would be necessary," said Wilke. The day ticket, for example, will be increased by 5.2 percent or two euros for adults, and by 4.3 percent or one euro for children. "That doesn't cover the increase in costs, but we have tried to manage the balancing act so that skiing remains an affordable leisure activity."
