Saalfelden Leogang in Salzburger Land, Austria, 13 November 2023 – The Epic Bikepark Leogang and the Saalfelden Leogang tourist region are continuing their unbroken upward trend in mountain bike tourism in 2023. With almost 80,000 “Mountain Biker Days” (equivalent to Skier Days), the Leoganger Bergbahnen cable car company recorded an increase of 13 percent compared to the previous year. If you look at the development since 2018, the huge tourism potential of mountain biking becomes even more evident.
When the Leoganger Bergbahnen and the Saalfelden Leogang tourist board set the course for mountain biking over 20 years ago and created the Epic Bikepark Leogang – now one of the most renowned bike parks in Europe – mountain biking as a popular sport was still in its infancy. Today’s numbers show that the Austrian mountain bike pioneers had the right instinct back then.
Leogang’s Mountain bike tourism accounted for around 13 % of total turnover in the 2022/2023 financial year – more than all other summer activities combined. What may not sound like much compared to the top dog, skiing, is quickly put into perspective when you take into account the number of lifts in operation, transport capacities and kilometers of slopes. In 2023 alone, the mountain bike operations recorded a 13 % increase in Mountain Biker Days compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the Online Bikebonus, a sunny summer and a perfect autumn ensured strong sales growth.
A look at the recent past also confirms the upswing in mountain biking. If you look at the last five years, the number of Mountain Biker Days has increased by as much as 70 percent. The number of cable car rides in the bike park has also seen steep growth over the past ten years: from around 150,000 (2014) to over 260,000 (2023) rides per year.
Through targeted brand positioning and strengthening of the off-seasons, the number of hotel overnight stays has also grown to around one million per year, of which almost 50 percent are already accounted for by the summer season. In addition to the hotels, the local bike schools are also registering a growing number of inquiries, too – this is particularly noticeable regarding tours and trainings for good to advanced riders. Beginner courses are mainly attended by families looking for a counterpart or substitute to winter sports.
Marketing: Events, influencers & partners
Although these figures are cause for celebration in Saalfelden Leogang, they don’t come as surprise. Rather, they are the result of targeted development and a sustainable appreciation of mountain bike tourism. The well-developed infrastructure of lines & trails, mountain railroads, hotels, stores, etc. is tailored to bike guests, while the constant further development of the offer is part of the mountain bike hotspot’s DNA. In 2023, this included the soft opening of the AlteSchmiede Trail, the extension of the bike season until the beginning of November and the newly introduced Online Bikebonus, a dynamic pricing system that has been well received by bike guests and has been used many times. Saalfelden Leogang was able to achieve a significant increase in Mountain Biker Days, particularly in the early and late season.
The local hotel industry has also adapted to this and invested more in services for mountain bikers, such as lockable bike cellars, tools for hire and a laundry service for dirty bike clothing. Some hotels also offer their guests their own bike rental service and in some cases even have their own bike guides who provide tour suggestions directly from the hotel.
In addition to marketing measures with extraordinary appeal, such as hosting the Mountain Bike World Championships in 2012, 2020 and 2028 or the annual Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, the Austrian bike destination repeatedly generates a lot of attention with targeted individual measures, most recently with an all-female edit featuring the leader of FMB World Women’s Ranking, Patricia Druwen. In addition to this and numerous other forms of influencer activations, the activation of their partners also plays a major role for Saalfelden Leogang, best showcased with the aforementioned video clip, as the ladies were riding on the Hot Shots Fired by GoPro Line.
More current news, dates and information about the tracks of the Epic Bikepark Leogang as well as the long opening hours can be found at bikepark-leogang.com, instagram.com/BikeparkLeogang or facebook.com/BikeparkLeogang. News and information about Saalfelden Leogang can be found on saalfelden-leogang.com, instagram.com/Saalfelden_Leogang or facebook.com/SaalfeldenLeogang
Austria’s biggest bike region
The three resorts of Saalbach Hinterglemm, Saalfelden Leogang and Fieberbrunn joined forces as “The Skicircus” several winters ago. In 2020, they also came closer together for the summer, to offer mountain and gravel bikers almost unlimited possibilities on two-wheels. With over 90 kilometers of lines and trails, 9 lifts between 7 mountains and a joint bike pass offering almost unlimited gravel and asphaltoptions.For a “well-rounded bike vacation” there are special bike hotels in Saalfelden Leogang such as the Hotel Bacher, the Lebe Frei Hotel Der Löwe, the mama thresl, the Good Life Resort Riederalm, the Ritzenhof – Hotel and Spa am See, the Biohotel Rupertus, the Hotel Salzburger Hof, the Hotel Krallerhof, the Naturhotel Forsthofgut, the Hotel Stockinggut and the Hotel Puradies, as well as competent bike stores such as Sport Mitterer, Sport 2000 Simon, Bikepalast Saalfelden, Shop & Suspension factory and the Bikepoint. To improve your own skills, for guided tours or for riding technique training, the Elements Outdoorsports bike school offers a wide range of services. A list of all bike-friendly accommodations in the Saalfelden Leogang region can be found here: saalfelden-leogang.com/en/region-experience/bike/bikehotels
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About the region Saalfelden Leogang
The Saalfelden Leogang region is situated in the heart of Salzburger Land, amongst the beautiful mountain ranges of “Steinernes Meer” and “Leoganger Steinberge”. The towns of Saalfelden and Leogang have partnered to create a dynamic tourism region. Their cooperation has already proven to be very successful as it was seen in the exemplary hosting of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in 2012 and 2020. The diversity of the region attracts thousands of biking tourists every year, whether e-bikers, gravel bikers, mountain bikers or road cyclists. The Epic Bikepark Leogang, as the heart of the bike region Saalfelden Leogang, has established itself since it opened in 2001 as one of the most renowned bike parks in Europe. It’s one of a total of 28 Gravity Card bike parks in Europe. With international high-class events such as the UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup, The Epic Bikepark Leogang has become an integral part of the international mountain bike scene over the years. In 2023, after two successful double World Cups, a “super event” with three disciplines was hold for the first time. The UCI Mountain Bike World Series took place in the disciplines Cross-Country (XCO & XCC), Downhill and Enduro in the Epic Bikepark Leogang. Those who want to look further into the future can look forward to the third UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pinzgau. From 30 August to 3 September 2028, Saalfelden Leogang will once again become the global center of mountain bike sports.
