Hungary’s most famous ski park in danger? Price rises do not cover costs

The Mátraszentistván Ski Park, the highest and most popular ski resort in Hungary, has had an above average season so far. Although prices have risen considerably, the situation is still bearable, at least as the heavy tourist flow proves.

COVID-19 has been replaced by galloping inflation

With many neighbouring countries in total closure, the Hungarian ski resort at 822 metres above sea level has seen record levels of visitors for two years and last year, despite the pandemic. Czechs, Slovaks and Poles had nowhere to ski but in the Mátra. Even ski tourists from distant, exotic countries such as Israel came to Mátraszentistván.

The 7 degrees Celsius temperature down in the valley did not scare off visitors, as the 30 snow machines in the ski park ensure zero temperatures up there, Tamás Erbeszkorn, the sports centre’s press officer, said to Index.hu.

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Snowboard and Ski Park Mátraszentistván Hungary2

Photo: Facebook/Sípark Mátraszentistván

The ski park is running at almost full capacity. The hut has everything you could possibly want, as long as you have a big budget. Prices have certainly gone up since 2021. Back then, 0,2 litre of mulled wine cost HUF 800 (EUR 2.05), and 0,3 litre was HUF 1,000 (EUR 2.57). Now it’s HUF 1000 and 1450 (EUR 2.57 and 3.72). A plate of bean goulash HUF 2950 (EUR 7.58), a fried pork cutlet with a side dish costs HUF 4400 (EUR 11.30).

“Last season was our best yet, we welcomed skiers for 107 days without a break, a record since 2004, when the ski park opened. In 2021, for example, the season only had to end in April, when the snow vanished”

said Tamás Erbeszkorn.

The closures of the Ski Park are part of the deal

The season started on 19 December 2022. They were open for 20 days, then a fierce heat front arrived and they had to close. They reopened last weekend. The fact that the park had to be closed for two weeks this year is part of the deal, the press officer points out, two out of ten years there is a break.

Snowboard and Ski Park Mátraszentistván Hungary1

Photo: Facebook/Sípark Mátraszentistván

Now the snow cover has a thickness of between 40 and 80 centimetres, of course only part of it is natural snow, the rest is made up from the snow cannon, adds Tamás. Next week, when the temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius, the snow will be at its best.

The water needed for snowmaking is provided by four small reservoirs. The melting snow is not wasted, it flows back into the lower pond and is then cannoned again, so the recycling process is in full rotation. One snow cannon costs roughly HUF 7 million (EUR 18,000), and the old ones are being replaced with digital new ones.

The price increase only covers a fraction of the cost

According to Index, a one-day ski pass costs EUR 53 in Obertauern, Austria’s top ski resort. In Mátraszentistván, a full-price day pass costs HUF 13,500 (EUR 34.67), up from HUF 10,000 (EUR 25.68) last year – a 35 percent increase, although electricity prices have risen tenfold, so the ticket price increase only covers a fraction of the cost. They are trying to bring prices in line with increases in ski parks of similar category and conditions in other countries, mainly in Slovakia and Slovenia.

A daily ski lift ticket costs HUF 13,500 (EUR 34.67), renting a pair of skis for a day costs about the same, HUF 13,000 (EUR 33.38), says a guest. If you hire a personal trainer, it’s another HUF 13,000, but if you join a group, it’s only HUF 7,000 (EUR 17.97).

Photo: Facebook/Sípark Mátraszentistván

There is one chair lift, built at a cost of no less than HUF 900 million (EUR 2,311,057) a few years ago, and the others are so-called “chock ski lifts”, where skiers tow themselves to the top while standing.

There are ten trails, the steepest of which, which is suitable for FIS races, is closed for now. The longest track is 1,200 metres long, the red track is now open, and the Lovers’ track is now also in operation, where the lights add to the special atmosphere. The Ski Park, open every Friday and Saturday until 8 PM, is for those who come specifically for romantic night skiing, but for early arrivals on weekends, the slopes open at 8 AM to allow for uncrowded skiing.