The state of Salzburg is pulling out all the stops to ensure winter remains a hit until the very end. While the first signs of spring are already beckoning people outdoors in large parts of Europe and even in many valleys, the slopes of Salzburg are still operating as if it were winter. The new "Winter Chillout" campaign aims to extend the enjoyment of winter sports for those who feel the snow is already a distant memory, thereby guaranteeing higher occupancy rates towards the end of the season.
Numerous attractive offers and events for winter chillout add some excitement to late winter – such as the March Glow3 at Hochkönig from March 9th to 28th with plenty of music, guided sundowner ski tours, cinema, and torchlight hikes. Or the Retro Festival in Gastein from March 13th to 15th and 20th to 22nd with DJs and open-air concerts, the Lady Ski Week in Großarltal from March 21st to 28th, or the SHESKIS Ladies' Ski Day on April 11th in Obertauern with an ABBA symphonic tribute.
Saalfelden Leogang has put together a "KIDS ON SKI" package, the Rauris Valley invites families to a winter finale, Gastein focuses on combining activity on the slopes with relaxation in the thermal baths, and the National Park holiday region also offers a great package to close out the season. These and numerous other attractive offers, events, and tips for a sunny skiing holiday in SalzburgerLand can be found on [website address - not provided in the original text]. www.winterchillout.com.
To coincide with the campaign, special offers have been created for ski schools and ski rentals: There's a Winter Chillout Ski & Board Deal where guests can rent equipment for three days but only pay for two, or rent for four days but only pay for three. The late-winter ski school special, the Winter Chillout Private Ski School Deal, offers two hours of private ski lessons for the price of one between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Both offers are valid between March 8th and April 12th, 2026.
The campaign has a specific cause, as confirmed by Leo Bauernberger, Managing Director of Salzburgerland.Tourismus (SLT): Statistically, compared to 2017, arrivals in the southern districts of the province, relevant for winter sports, declined by 10 in March/April 2025, and overnight stays even by 17. This was true regardless of which month Easter fell in. "We have to take this seriously, because the offerings provide excellent reasons for a winter holiday at this time," Bauernberger confirms. Almost all regions – except Zell am See – are participating in the campaign, and the province's tourism promotion fund is also supporting late winter tourism. A total of almost one million euros is available for advertising and PR across all channels.
The Winter Chillout initiative isn't born out of necessity. Winter in the Salzburg region is currently on a record-breaking course. December alone saw a year-on-year increase of 12.8% in overnight stays, partly due to the favorable timing of the Christmas holidays. "The supply is secured until Easter or even beyond. 90% of the relevant hotels will be open by then," guarantees Bauernberger. He explains that businesses often close for cost reasons – even in other Alpine regions – despite excellent snow conditions. Former downhill world champion Michael Walchhofer, a multi-hotelier and tourism director in Zauchensee, counters this, saying, "Every extra week in spring helps retain qualified staff." The argument also emphasizes the importance of quality. Winter sports are at their most relaxing in spring: as the days lengthen, the hustle and bustle subsides. There's less crowding on the slopes, and only occasionally on the sun terraces. Lack of snow is also usually not an issue, as the snowpack only reaches its peak in mid-March, especially at altitudes around 2000 meters. Furthermore, this time of year is a popular time to combine winter and summer activities.
Not only Bauernberger, but also Olympic champion Felix Gottwald praise the option of enjoying the slopes – or even high-altitude cross-country trails – in the morning and then adding a round of golf in the valley in the afternoon. Author Gottwald ("No Time for Today") also has two lighthearted observations: "I don't understand people who flee to a beach at this time of year that doesn't really have anything to offer yet. Winter isn't over until the snow is gone."„