LAAX ski area, one of Switzerland’s largest ski areas and one of the world capitals of freestyle skiing, will be staying under local Swiss ownership.
The operators of the company that runs the ski lifts and other infrastructure at the ski area, Weisse Arena Bergbahnen AG, is reported to have been one of several approached by foreign buyers. They then sought to protect themselves from being purchased.
Their answer was to sell their company to the local municipality, then lease it back to continue operating it as before. In Switzerland though a plan like that requires local public approval so a series of local referenda were staged in the three communities concerned, Flims, Laax and Falera, over last weekend.
The community purchase and lease back plan received an 85.5% approval vote in Flims, 93.2% in Falera and 93.2% in Laax too.
By purchasing the tourist infrastructure on the mountain, including the lifts, mountain restaurants, operating buildings and avalanche protection systems, the community will retain strategic input, ensuring the infrastructure is operated long term in the overall best interest of the region.
“The acceptance of the proposal by all three municipalities is a sign of confidence in the long-standing cooperation between the local community and the Weisse Arena Group. This agreement paves the way for keeping the mountain’s tourism infrastructure under local ownership and thereby strengthening tourism in our region while maintaining our agency, identity and values,” commented Reto Gurtner, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors for Weisse Arena Group, who added,
“The acceptance is also a conclusion that the long-term development of tourism will successfully continue as our companies, municipalities and residents all work together. We are confident that there is no entity who can manage this region better than the local communities, and we look forward to continuing our efforts in promoting tourism in the region while protecting the interests of our residents and environment.”