“Single”. This is said several times by Bruce McNeill, ski instructor and hotelier from Cervinia who heads the Cervino Monte Rosa Paradise Promoting Committee to support the project to connect five ski valleys to make it the largest ski area in Europe with 580 kilometers of ski slopes. descent. From the Swiss station of Zermatt, passing through the Valle d’Aosta Cervinia, Valtournenche, Ayas and Gressoney, up to the Piedmontese Alagna. Estimated cost 66 million, to go around the Monte Rosa massif with a view of the Matterhorn and another 30 peaks (out of 82) over the four thousand. Hence McNeill’s definition of the project, “unique” in fact.
The “but” is represented by what is missing to go around the Rosa starting from Zermatt: a cable car in the valley of the Cime Bianche which from the homonymous hill (watershed between the Valle d’Aosta Valtournenche and Ayas) descends to Frachey. From here, in the upper hamlet beyond Champoluc, the journey by cable car (first section by rack) continues uninterrupted towards Gressoney and then Alagna. It is a problematic “but” because the splendid valley is under environmental protection: European, national and regional standards. Also part of the Natura 2000 project that prevents the construction of a cable car, those few kilometers that are missing from the Cime Bianche pass in Frachey.
In addition to the “yes” committee there is also the “no” committee “Starting over from the White Peaks”; in recalling the «unsurpassable protection rules» he underlines «the uselessness of throwing public money to study a project that can never be realized».
The Valle d’Aosta Region in 2019 entrusted Monterosa spa, a ski lifts company (Ayas, Gressoney, Alagna) to take care of a feasibility project. A grouping from Bolzano is working on it and will study the possibilities of intervention from every point of view, cableway, environmental and legal, as well as financial and managerial scenarios, taking into account the socio-economic repercussions on a very large territory. It will be ready for the fall of this year.
Ski instructor and hotelier from Cervinia, Bruce McNeill heads the Cervino Monterosa Paradise Promotion Committee
Bruce McNeill: «We are not just talking about skiing and not even about the valleys at the foot of Cervino and Monte Rosa, but about the whole Valle d’Aosta and large territories also in Piedmont». So far and since 2015, the local populations interviewed and gathered in several meetings have always given a favorable opinion to build the only missing cableway. McNeill again: «As early as 2015 85 percent of residents said yes. And every meeting we hold we collect consensus ».
McNeill, you argue that the project cannot remain a utopia.
“Of course. He affects the life of our valleys ».
That from Cervinia to Alagna they are certainly not depressed.
«No, but the risk of depopulation has already been highlighted. Development is needed both to keep up with a complex and difficult market and to provide new job opportunities. If we look at what is happening in the Alps, we realize the enormous disparity in investments between the north side and ours, the south one ”.
Meaning what?
«In 2021, beyond the Alps, between France, Switzerland and Austria there were 59 projects, including modernization of the ski facilities and new construction. South only 8. And beyond skiing, mountain tourism is pushing, demand is increasing, especially in summer. Another figure concerns the United States and Canada. In 2021 they built 53 new ski lifts ”.
But the summer …
«This project of ours around the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa is not only for skiing, but also for tourists who prefer trekking, for those who love cycling. Let’s talk about safari tours. Then there is the aspect of gastronomy, of hospitality. And of nature. We care a lot about the environment, it is our wealth ».
But to realize the “utopia” you go against environmental protection by wanting to build a cable car in the valley of the Cime Bianche.
«We are the first not to want to make an impactful implant. In Northern Europe, in green countries they always manage to find meeting points between development and environmental reasons. From our valleys the young people, I repeat, are leaving, we must give them new opportunities ».
Yes, but the protection rules seem insuperable.
“I’m not a jurist, but I don’t think that’s really the case. If the return for the residents of the area has a strong socio-economic value, exceptions can be made ».
But as the Committee “Restarting from Cime Bianche” reminds us, in addition to all the prohibition regulations on buildings and cableways, there was also the amendment of the Constitution which concerns particular attention to the environment.
«No look, nothing really changes. The changes to the Constitution indicate the importance of environmental issues, but the laws are already there. And, I repeat, we are the first to take this into account ».
Not according to environmentalists.
«We look to the future, to development. What do they propose? A park? Well, costs with what benefits? But then why say “no” a priori: when we have a feasibility project in hand we will talk about it. If there is no work there is no reason to live in the mountains and the environment is protected with the money generated by tourism. Isn’t that the case for agriculture? Induced both for tourism and for environmental conservation. Our project should not only be seen thinking of Cime Bianche but of the entire community. It is a strategic concept for the entire Aosta Valley ».
Let’s talk about costs. The project, according to your estimates, will employ 66 million. Is that so?
“Yup. We will see the financial plan, but with a plus 2 per cent on tickets and plus 2 per cent in tourist traffic, the money from the investment comes out ».
Are you sure that this is the future to propose?
“Absolutely. Ours will be the third area in the world by extension, but it will be the first for comfort and annual usability. This is the uniqueness and this is the great opportunity. Geography helps us. Taking a ticket for a ride around the Rosa is like a winning lottery ticket. Beauty and nature. In this way we will eliminate the problem of seasonality with peaks in inflows and sudden drops and we would also be attractive to new markets, such as the Asian one. From Italian cities of art to world famous mountains such as the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. Change the tourism strategy. Without tunnels and ski lifts, where would we be? ».