An information meeting held in Ax-les-Thermes on Friday, March 25, at the initiative of Savasem, announced the approval of an investment plan of 44 million euros for the resort. of Ax 3 Domaines: creation of a new union, modernization, diversification … Focus.
“For 1 euro of ski lifts, it’s 8.60 euros per territory, the impact is huge, we know that the question of having a ski resort is the main one, it’s vital,” said Dominique Fourcade, mayor of the town and president of Savasem (Alpine Ski Valley of Ax mixed economy), as a preamble to the information meeting held at the town hall on March 25.
New gondola, new ski lifts
If the content of this meeting corresponded to the recent statements of the President of the Departmental Council, Christine Téqui, about the investments dedicated to skiing in Ariège, several projects were nevertheless revealed before the assembly, including the allocation of an additional envelope of 44 million euros.
Also read:
“Everything is over with skiing, but everything is gone without skiing”: Ariège draws a plan for its mountain resorts for the next 15 years
The sum earmarked for the diversification and modernization of the Ax 3 Domaines station, which will include – among other things – a second ski lift in Bonascre and the acquisition of a 10-seater gondola to facilitate access to Saquet. A plan “whose relevance has been verified by the Compagnie des Alpes”, explains Dominique Fourcade.
“The specialist firm Climsnow has carried out a study which states that our resort will be more than 60% viable in 2050 (…). With these 44 million, we will strengthen the ski economy by improving quality and diversifying activities. This is a complex topic that we have been working on for a long time with our friends and partners – the municipalities, the union and the region – this is a long-term job.”
“10 years very strong and 5 years on a gentle slope, on a green slope”
As announced by the department of Ariège, the new joint union, which aims to manage all the resorts of Ariège, should see the light of day in the first half of 2025. It should create a multi-annual investment plan of 78 million euros over 15 years, of which 44 will be thus dedicated to the Ax 3 Domaines station. A significant amount and “a plan with cross-potentials that follows about ten years where not much has happened”, emphasizes Fabrice Esquirol, CEO of Savasem.
Also read:
Ariège: Ax 3 Domaines, a “locomotive” ski resort that should withstand climate change
This €44 million program will therefore be spread over 15 years, “with 10 very strong years and 5 years on a gentle slope, on a green path”, warns Dominique Fourcade. Among the major projects, 15 million euros will be invested in the operation of a 10-seater gondola, which should facilitate access to Saquet, and 27 million euros in ski lifts, which will regulate the influx of peak hours on Bonascre with the addition of a lift: “During beautiful days, we have up to 9,000 people and it’s imperative that we have enough flow to absorb these flows that are concentrated into less than two hours.”
Major projects in addition to the thermal baths, which recently announced their redevelopment: “The tourist offer is very rich, says Fabrice Esquirol. There are thermal baths in front of the gates of the ski resorts, a few kilometers further “There are very high quality tourist offers – I mean Talcanéo and Mountanéo – let’s connect all these offers and the Ax destination in all these components will be a very strong and very strong destination in the Pyrenees.”