Mountain tourism is increasing and Sweden's mountain guides need to be upgraded.
But the budget has been halved and the money is not enough, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
”We have suspended the upgrading of the trails and put it on hold,” says Erik Hellberg Meschaks at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Both Swedish and foreign tourism in the mountains is increasing, which places demands on bridges, signs and paths on the hiking trails to be in good condition. Despite the increased wear and tear on the trails by tourists, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has received ten million kronor less in funding to maintain the trails.
”"We can manage to maintain by repairing and patching in a year's time. But we cannot carry out the need for upgrading," says Erik Hellberg Meschaks at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The budget proposed by the Moderates and the Christian Democrats and hammered through by the Riksdag last year has meant that 10 million, 40 percent, has been cut from the maintenance of the mountain guides.
In addition to the budgeted 15 million that has now been allocated, an additional 30-40 million is required to restore the mountain passes to good condition, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
– In the long term, a budget like this would mean that we have to close smaller trails, says Erik Hellberg Meschaks.
The Swedish Tourist Association (STF) has now launched a call to increase funding for mountain guides.
”"There are already quite big shortcomings. If you wait to do things, they will fall into disrepair and then it will be even more expensive to fix," says Magnus Ling, secretary general of the Swedish Tourist Association.
He believes that it is not a lot of money and that an increased budget would have many benefits – such as promoting environmentally friendly tourism such as hiking.
”"The government wants to invest in the tourism industry and says it wants to invest in the climate. Then it will all be wrong," says Magnus Ling.
Another advantage is that an increased budget would create more jobs in places like Abisko where mountain tourism is an important part of the livelihood, believes Magnus Ling.
”"It's strange that the government doesn't see the benefits of this. We have a unique mountain environment that many countries don't have," he says.
TT has contacted Isabella Lövin for comment. She does not comment on the reduced budget but says through her press secretary that the government will present its spring amended budget in April.
Source: TT
