The Ötztal is a side valley of the Inn Valley in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. The approximately 65-kilometer-long valley includes the five communities of Sautens, Oetz, Umhausen, Längenfeld and Sölden. The Ötztal is internationally known for its winter sports areas in Sölden-Hochsölden, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl and Oetz.
tourism
With around 3.8 million overnight stays (of which around 2.7 million in winter), the Ötztal is one of the tourist centres in Tyrol. The towns in the outer Ötztal tend to be bi-seasonal, whereas winter tourism is dominant in Sölden and its districts.
Since the first chairlift was built in Sölden in 1948, the transport facilities have been continuously expanded. In the 1960s, Hochgurgl was developed, and in the 1970s the glacier ski area on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers was developed. The Rettenbach glacier is also the venue for Alpine Ski World Cup competitions. In the front Ötztal, the cable car to the Acherkogl in Ötz began operating in 1975. The thermal spa in Längenfeld, which opened at the end of 2004, has given the front Ötztal a further boost to tourism. Tourism is therefore the most important employer in the valley.
Today the following ski areas exist in the valley:
- Sölden: Hochsölden, Gaislachkogel, Rettenbachferner, Tiefenbachferner (33 lifts)
- Gurgl: Obergurgl-Hochgurgl with the Top Mountain Star panoramic platform (21 lifts)
- Oetz: Hochötz (12 lifts + 13 lifts in connection with Kühtai)
- Vent: Vent cable cars (4 lifts)
- Niederthai (3 lifts)
- Gries (1 lift)
In total there are 87 lifts (including Kühtai) in the Ötztal.