Uluda? in Turkey will see dramatic improvements in the next few years will see it become a rival to resorts Like Davos in Switzerland the Turkish government hope.

Uluda? is reported to have seen little new investment in 50 years.

The resort is the best known of the dozen or so ski areas in Turkey but has suffered from a lack of investment and modernisation in recent decades while some other ski areas in the country have installed modern lifts and snowmaking.

Uluda? been hoping to see improvements for more than eight years, but has been hampered by bureaucracy despite Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (the AK Party), making redevelopment of the resort a top priority since coming to power in 2002.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdo?an visited Uluda? in July and promised the delays in the planned $40m of development were coming to an end – so long as no legal actions are launched by objectors.

Initial work has seen the beginning of ‘beautification’ of the resort, including the demolition of a public lodge owned by the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, one of several buildings deemed too ugly for the resort’s future. A new conference centre and shopping mall are to be added.

The aged cable car is scheduled to be replaced by a new lift which much increased capacity (18,000 skiers per day) and ascending up to Uluda?’s highest point, Sar?alan.

On the mountain, there are plans to build what the resort believes will be Europe’s longest ski run in Uluda?’s Alaçam region. In contrast to the present situation, there will be absolutely no other buildings or structures allowed on or around the ski runs.
The work was due to be completed last year but conflicts between government ministries prevented this, and they are now aimed for completion in 2010.

“This project was prepared taking its lead from the prime minister. Our prime minister had a dream regarding Uluda?, and we have been struggling for the past five years to realize this dream. We have met many bureaucratic barriers along the way, but the struggle came to an end during the prime minister’s visit to the region along with Environmental and Forestry Minister Ero?lu and Culture and Tourism Minister Ertu?rul Günay in July. In preparing this project, we have visited both Davos and Zermatt. We have studied other examples of mountain resorts in the world. We will turn this great dream into a reality.” Regional State Minister Faruk Çelik said.

“It was our prime minister who gave us the order to turn Uluda? into a Davos. We are working to see Uluda? turned into one of the world’s most beautiful centres of tourism. We want to build a series of perfect facilities in Uluda?. We have held contests that focus both on aesthetics and the importance of nature in deciding which plans to use. We have now completed our plans. We will completely redesign Uluda? in a two-stage project. And Uluda? will, in the end, have Europe’s longest ski run.” Mr Celik added.

Here comes Iran’s best kept secret – no, not another uranium enrichment plant – its exceptional skiing. Although most people wouldn’t imagine mentioning Iran and snow sports in the same sentence, the country has some of the best high altitude skiing on offer anywhere in the world.

Iran’s premier resort, Shemshak, lies between 2550 and 3050 metres and has steep black runs, challenging mogul fields and adrenalin inducing 45º slopes. It has been recognised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) since 1996 for holding international competitions, which are held here every season. This is the place to meet the best skiers and snowboarders in Iran. There are even floodlit pistes for night skiing.

Dizin is Iran’s highest and the Middle East’s largest ski resort. At 2700m, its base is higher than the summit of most Alpine resorts. It’s just under 3600m at the top, with a vertical drop of 950m. Dizin has a good range of facilities, including 10 lifts and runs for all standards. The high altitude and dry mountain air provide the perfect conditions for powdery snow.

Skiing in Iran first started in the 1930s by the Germans who were building the railways. This was continued by Iranian students returning home from France and Switzerland. Today, there are numerous resorts throughout the country with Western standard facilities.

There are freeride possibilities including down the slopes of Damavand (5671m), Iran’s highest peak and the second highest volcano in the northern hemisphere. From either the base camp (3040m) or camp 3 (4250m) you can ride all the way down to the roadside at 2200m. That is a vertical drop of 2000m.

The cable car companies in the Kitzbüheler Alpen are investing more than 60 million euros in new lifts and snow machines for the coming season.

In the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental the snow making facilities in Hopfgarten are being improved, a new reservoir is being built at the Tanzboden in Ellmau, the snow making facilities on the Hartkaiser and Astberg are being extended and the ‘Ellmi’s 6er’ – a new detachable 6-seater chair lift with heated seating – is being installed at the Schmiedalm lift.

The last single-seat chair lift at the SkiWelt will be removed from the Choralm in Westendorf.

Bergbahn Kitzbühel cable cars are swapping the Kaserecklift for a modern eight-seater chair lift as well as introducing good value resort tickets for the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Ganslernhang and the Gaisberg. A new reservoir will also be fitted at the Gaisberg.

Next winter, a new eight seater cable car – the Winklmoosbahn – will run from Reit im Winkl in Bavaria to the Steinplatte. Bergbahn Pillersee cable cars are replacing the old T-bar lift on the Buchsteinwand with a new four-seater chair lift and a new practice lift will be added to the Schatzbergbahn intermediate station in Wildschönau.

Kaprun cable cars are investing primarily in snow making facilities while Zell am See are also expanding their snow making capabilities to 100% and installing the ‘Kettingbahn’, a six-seater lift with a protective covering and heated seats.

In Saalbach, a six-seater chair lift is replacing the Turm T-bar lift, in Hinterglemm a new eight-seater chair lift (Hasenauerköpfl) is being introduced and in Leogang, a quad chair lift is replacing the Alm T-bar lift.

Overall, the 7 ski regions in the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard scheme are investing more than 60 million euros in modern lifts, high performance snow making machines and measures to improve comfort.

With more than 1,000 km of pistes, the Kitzbüheler Alpen is therefore Tirol’s largest skiing association and one of the most interesting skiing regions in the world.