Alpine organisations in Austria maintain over 50,000 km of hiking trails and more than 430 alpine huts with around 17,000 beds. This alpine infrastructure is important for the local population for recreational purposes and is an essential part of the tourism offering in Austria, especially in summer. Investing in alpine infrastructure contributes to enabling people to experience natural habitats in an ecologically responsible way.

Due to the remote and exposed locations of the infrastructure and challenging weather and climate conditions, regular investments are necessary. These investments also include ecological measures (e.g., improvement of energy efficiency) and enhancement of quality for both guests and employees. The Ministry has supported such investments for more than four decades via the Austrian Association of Alpine Organisations (VAVOE). The aim is for the Ministry to continue funding the alpine infrastructure, maintain the current funding levels of around EUR 3.7 million per year (combined EU and national funds), and possibly increase them depending on the available budget.