Mountain Planet: New Territories for Skiing and Urban Mobility

From Kyrgyzstan to India: New Territories for Skiing and Urban Mobility Are Redrawing the Global Map of Mountain Development and Cable Transport Markets

While European ski resorts continue to invest in supporting year-round mountain development—illustrated by French ski areas, which invested €568 million* in 2024, representing 34% of their net turnover—companies active in mountain development and cable transport are increasingly looking further afield for new opportunities. Although geopolitical and climate conditions have reshuffled the cards in certain parts of the world, new markets are opening up: equipping new ski resorts, developing four-season tourism, and implementing urban or leisure cable transport systems, sometimes in unexpected destinations.

The Mountain Planet trade show takes a world tour of these “emerging” countries and highlights several flagship projects by major industry players. Before reviewing global trends and opportunities, let us first look at France. After Brest, Toulouse and, more recently, Ajaccio, Créteil has become the fourth French city to introduce an urban cable transport system. Named Câble C1, the first urban cable car in the Île-de-France region opened on 13 December 2025 between Créteil and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. Since its inauguration, it has been a real success with local residents, transforming the daily lives of thousands of people in the Val-de-Marne département. The journey between Créteil and Villeneuve-Saint-Georges now takes 18 minutes by gondola, compared with 40 minutes previously by bus. Cabins run every 30 seconds, with an expected ridership of 11,000 passengers per day. The system was built by Doppelmayr France, a subsidiary of the Austrian group Doppelmayr-Garaventa.

(*Source: Montagne Leaders – www.montagneleaders.fr)

Laurent Vanat, an international expert on the economics of ski resorts and author of the Global Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, which provides an annual overview of the state of skiing worldwide, shares his analysis of global trends in ski, tourism and urban markets:

“There are fewer new ski resorts being developed, or they are emerging in China, where equipment is now manufactured locally, and in Russia, where Western suppliers have been disqualified. In emerging countries (and elsewhere as well), there is a strong shift toward urban or tourism projects to anticipate the future.”

On 21 April 2026 at 10:00 a.m., Laurent Vanat will unveil his annual global ski report in preview at the opening of the Mountain Planet trade show.

Resilience of Industry Players

Political instability and climate change highlight the agility of companies involved in mountain development.

“After the unprecedented Covid crisis, followed by municipal elections in 2021, investments were postponed, and we are now seeing a rebound in projects in 2025–2026. The French market is extremely mature,” explains Mehdi Caillis, Director of Public Affairs and Urban Transport at the French group MND.

“As part of our new strategic plan, our development will be increasingly focused on urban projects, both in France and internationally.”

Asia

“For cable transport, the market is quite cyclical. There was South America, then Asia—mainly China and South Korea—but currently there are fewer projects in that region,” notes Mehdi Caillis.

The market slowed after the construction of spectacular installations in Asia, such as gondolas providing access to the Great Wall of China or the world’s longest tricable gondola (8 km) built by Doppelmayr in Hon Thom, Vietnam.

After projects in Simatai near the Great Wall and cableways connecting sacred sites in Korea, POMA is now building an urban cable transport system in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The first line (approximately 4.2 km, 2 stations, 98 cabins) is currently under construction, with progressive installation of pylons and main infrastructure since 2024. This will be the country’s first urban cable line, with commissioning planned around 2026. The investment amounts to €30–50 million for a silent, fully electric system.

Central and Western Asia

Laurent Vanat explains: “In this region, new projects are mentioned from time to time, but not all of them materialize, or sometimes only much later. Kazakhstan, for instance, has revived an old project developed in the early 2010s during its Olympic bid. There is also a new ski resort under construction in Kyrgyzstan, as well as a new resort in Armenia, Myler, the country’s third.”

The Austrian company SUNKID, a global leader in four-season leisure equipment, installed conveyor belts for beginner areas at this resort.

“In Central Asia, there are major projects, but the population is not made up of skiers,” the expert continues, citing the high-quality Shahdag resort in Azerbaijan, which features state-of-the-art equipment but very low visitor numbers.

“The Central Asian region offers interesting potential, with projects that are sometimes significant, but often driven by a development strategy focused on a single tourist site rather than a national winter sports policy,” explains Max Rougeaux, Marketing Manager at TechnoAlpin, which equipped Shahdag with snowmaking systems.

A large-scale extension project began in 2025, rolled out in several phases, with nearly 140 additional snow guns and three new pumping stations to supply water to the expanded snowmaking system. Once completed, Shahdag will operate more than 550 snow guns—fan and lance types combined—to secure snow reliability for guests.

In Kazakhstan, TechnoAlpin also expanded the snowmaking system at Oi-Qaragai resort in 2025, adding 4,000 meters of slopes equipped with artificial snow. This investment confirms a partnership initiated in 2018 and developed in several stages.

Across the Caspian Sea, in Uzbekistan, the Amirsoy ski area—one of the largest and most modern in the country—has also been equipped by TechnoAlpin. It is the first resort in Uzbekistan to install a snowmaking system.

Uzbekistan currently represents MND’s largest market, with an ongoing €100 million contract for the Chimgan resort. The project includes two chairlifts, a detachable 10-seat ORIZON™ gondola, ski slope safety equipment, leisure infrastructure (a mountain coaster, two zip lines, a tubing area), 14 O’BellX systems for preventive avalanche control, and an automated snowmaking network. Leveraging its integrated, Made-in-France model, MND is coordinating all technical aspects as a single partner for design, manufacturing and installation. Two years after project launch, nearly 100 people are working daily on site to create Central Asia’s first year-round international mountain leisure destination. Located less than 1.5 hours by road from the capital Tashkent (nearly 4 million inhabitants), Chimgan aims to become Central Asia’s leading mountain leisure hub.

The Kyrgyz Republic has launched the “Three Peaks” ski resort project, presented as the largest ski development in Central Asia. Located in the Issyk-Kul region of the Tian Shan mountains, the resort spans three massifs: Jyrgalan, Ak-Bulak and Boz-Uchuk. Ultimately, the domain aims for 200–250 km of slopes and 30–36 lifts, with a capacity of approximately 850,000 skiers and tourists per year. The total investment is estimated at around USD 1 billion, combining public funding and private investment in accommodation and tourism infrastructure. Initial construction phases are underway, with partial opening planned for late 2026/2027, followed by phased expansion through 2030–2035. Earthworks, access roads, utilities and the first two lifts (Doppelmayr combi-lifts, approx. 4 km in total) are currently under construction. The first phase targets 60 km of slopes and six lifts, with partial ski operations in Jyrgalan for the 2026–2027 winter season.

In Kazakhstan, SUNKID installed a new-generation four-season mountain coaster (Mountain Coaster 2.0). The Austrian company is involved in more than 9,000 projects worldwide.

“We are seeing very strong growth in summer leisure equipment in mountain regions across the globe. The best example is the SUNKID conveyor belt, which 29 years ago was designed exclusively for skiers and is now used in bike parks, mountain coasters, water parks and more.”

Africa

Across Africa, the potential for cable transport projects is attracting growing interest.

“Everyone is looking at this continent. Today, projects are mainly concentrated in North Africa, but other countries such as Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal are also considering cable transport. Things are starting to move, but project lead times are long,” observes Mehdi Caillis of MND.

“The main challenge in urban projects is the state’s ability to finance them, especially since the economic model of public transport rarely allows infrastructure to be profitable.”

In 2025, POMA delivered the cable car system in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. A key element of the city’s urban transport network, the line serves 7 stations over 8.7 km between Antsako, Anosy and Ambatobe, with an initial capacity of up to 40,000 passengers per day.

Tourism-related projects are also emerging in Africa, such as the DianaLand gondola in Agadir, a leisure park installed in 2023 by the Austrian company Doppelmayr. A first in Morocco, the six-minute ride at 1,600 meters altitude offers spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean, the harbor and the old city.

In this region, La Réunion Island stands out for its dynamic development of cable transport, driven by both mobility needs and tourism appeal. CINOR is promoting these new modes of transport, reflecting the shift from “mobility” to “mobilities.”

After the first metro cable in the Indian Ocean—the Papang, built by POMA in 2022 and already used by more than 4.6 million passengers in three years—CINOR selected MND in 2025 to build and operate the La Montagne urban cable car in Saint-Denis. This new line will connect lower Bellepierre to the La Montagne plateau in just four minutes, transforming daily life for thousands of residents. A true alternative to the car, it will open up the highlands while reducing congestion, pollution and travel times. ZÈL La Montagne will be the world’s first 100% energy-neutral urban cable car. Its operation will rely on a next-generation smart grid combining energy recovery from downhill travel with photovoltaic installations covering all stations and auxiliary buildings. The system will produce as much energy as it consumes annually, ensuring carbon-neutral operation. Commissioning is scheduled for summer 2028.

South America and the Caribbean

“In ski resorts, Chile and Argentina had a good season in 2024, but there are few opportunities due to limited investment,” comments Laurent Vanat.

In urban transport, however, the continent is a pioneer.

“Projects began there, mainly due to topography. As early as 2004, installations appeared in Medellín. Today, Colombia launches two to three tenders per year. Bolivia now has ten lines, with two new ones planned for 2026. Another giant is awakening: Mexico, with five projects already completed and many more expected in 2026, particularly through tenders in Mexico City,” continues Mehdi Caillis.

After the first urban gondola in the Caribbean in Santo Domingo, a fully horizontal line crossing the Ozama River, followed by a second 4.2 km line inaugurated in May 2023, the Dominican Republic has once again chosen POMA for a new cable car project—this time in Santiago de los Caballeros—to support the urban development of the country’s second-largest city.

In the tourism market, Doppelmayr is currently completing the world’s longest gondola lift on the island nation of Dominica, at the Boiling Lake site (Doppelmayr 10-MGD system, capacity approx. 1,000 passengers/hour, 10-seat cabins). With a length of 6.6 km and a travel time of about 20 minutes between the Roseau Valley and Boiling Lake, it will allow visitors to reach the world’s second-largest boiling lake.

Middle East

In this region, Saudi Arabia is where many projects are expected to emerge, combining urban mobility and tourism as the country seeks to diversify its economy. NEOM, the colossal desert megaproject, and its Trojena ski resort—scheduled to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games—have sparked controversy, but despite being scaled back, they are indeed taking shape. Skiing under domes is already possible in the country, but this futuristic resort will be open-air, thanks to a snowmaking system supplied by a lake overlooking the resort—an enormous seawater reservoir equipped with three dams, the largest measuring 475 meters wide and 145 meters high. After desalination, the water will supply the resort’s snow guns.

South Asia – India

After Colombia, Peru and China, India has now become the new global hub for cable transport, combining innovation in urban mobility with rural and tourism connectivity in mountainous regions. While India has only three ski resorts (Gulmarg, Auli and Manali)[1] with around twenty lifts in total, cable transport responds to the urgent need for alternative mobility solutions. The global cable transport market is experiencing strong growth, and India is positioning itself as the next major expansion ground for European manufacturers.

Driven by the national Parvatmala Pariyojana (National Ropeways Development Programme), this low-impact transport mode—unhindered by ground obstacles—is emerging as a sustainable, efficient and cost-effective solution in urban environments and hard-to-access mountainous areas. With a population of 1.43 billion[2], India plans to build more than 200 cable transport lines by 2030, totaling 1,200 km, with public investment exceeding €13 billion. This ambitious, state-backed plan offers European manufacturers a unique opportunity to combine growth, innovation and commitment to sustainable mobility.

India is also betting on urban cable cars to tackle pollution and congestion. Under the Parvatmala program, the government has announced plans to develop more than 250 projects within five years. The initiative favors “Made in India,” although some projects will be awarded to European companies.

Among the projects underway, the Shillong cable car in the state of Meghalaya has been awarded to POMA. This new system will connect the city of Shillong to Shillong Peak, an iconic viewpoint, and is expected to become a major driver of regional tourism, with commissioning targeted for 2027.

For European manufacturers—Doppelmayr, Bartholet, Leitner, Poma and MND Ropeways—global leaders in cable transport for decades thanks to their expertise, worldwide references, highest safety standards and advanced technologies, India has become an essential market for urban and tourism projects. With a market exceeding €13 billion by 2030, it is set to become the largest in the world for major European cable transport suppliers.

About Mountain Planet

MOUNTAIN PLANET is the world’s leading trade show for mountain development and industry, held at ALPEXPO in Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (France). A global meeting point for mountain stakeholders, it showcases the latest innovations and market trends. The event brings together the entire mountain ecosystem every two years—manufacturers, elected officials, local authorities, accommodation providers and ski area operators. Each edition welcomes over 900 international exhibitors and brands across 60,000 m² of exhibition space, attracting more than 20,000 professional visitors from over 68 countries.

The 2026 edition of MOUNTAIN PLANET will take place from 21 to 23 April 2026 in Grenoble-ALPEXPO (France).

Sources:

[1] Global Report on Snow Tourism 2025, Laurent Vanat

[2] United Nations, 2025

https://www.mountain-planet.com/en/