Works are set to start at the end of 2021 and will expectedly complete in time for the resort to open in December 2022.

This would be a welcome change for the local economy after the ski resort was closed between 2012 and 2016 as the gondola broke down. Even after it started operating again, the gondola broke down quite often.

Bovec municipality, which owns the company operating the ski slope, is counting on acquiring 75% of funds for the investment, estimated at EUR 52m, from the EU and the state, while the rest is to be covered by loans and additional investors.

The most expensive item on the to-do list is the new gondola, which is estimated at EUR 24m. Another EUR 15m is to be spent on renovation of existing infrastructure, EUR 8m would go for a new entry station for the gondola, and another EUR 5m for the new exit station that will also contain a restaurant.

To meet the deadline, the municipality will have to acquire all the needed approvals and permits by May 2020, according to Mayor Valter Mlekuž, who added that the municipality was already talking to a potential investor.