Administrative problems appear to mark the infrastructural works on Italian ski resorts this year - they are the most often cause of a good portion of investments being delayed for the following summer. Unsolved paperwork, doubtful economic situation in the country and climate changes that don't favor winter resorts caused re-thinking of some of the "safe" plans for the expansion of slopes and lifts.

The biggest echo came from a notice about delayed work on building the connection between the Italian Sella Nevea resort and Slovenian resort of Kanin. Because the consents for the building were not issued on time, building permits were also delayed. The construction began only in August, too late to be finished in time for a new season. However, next summer, when the works will be finished, connected ski resort will be perhaps the most visited one in the region that lies close to Slovenia and Austria.

Neighboring Tarvisio also has problems with collecting the necessary permits for the construction of lifts and slopes that are to connect two sites that have so far been linked only by ski trail at the bottom of the ski resort. Planned chairlifts and slopes will "round up" the resort on higher heights. The "Greens" are not too happy about the provided solution and fear of excessive destruction of forests and pilgrim's trail that leads to the shrine at the top of the ski resorts. Announcements here say that the works, which already started, should be finished next summer.

There are no problems with the new infrastructure in Dolomiti Superski carousel. Here, the emphasis is on the modernization of existing lifts instead of building new ones. Because of proclaimed environment awareness they will not build new ski lifts but only incre the existing capacities. Also, Dolomiti Superski complex has reached geographic and organizational limits in which they function optimally. So, at the moment they are not thinking about major infrastructure procedures. In Val Gardena 3 lifts were replaced: 6-seater chairlift Panorama with the capacity of 2200 p/h has replaced the old 4-seater chairlift; an old cable car Col Raiser has been replaced with a new (2030 p/h), and the new skilift Campo Freina was appointed instead of the old one.

In the neighboring valley of Val di Fassa and Carezza, somewhat isolated Passo Costalunga has been modernized. There are now three modern lifts: Le Pope ski lift, Pra dei Tori 4- seater chairlift (1200 p/h) and Carezza-Costalunga  cable car (1200 p/h). Following anticlockwise direction of Sella Ronda, next ski resort is Arabba/Marmolada. There, an old 2-seater chairlift Masarei has been replaced with a new 4-seater chairlift capacity of about 2200 p/h. This will greatly speed up the way around Sella Ronda.

Trevalli, a nice family ski resort, anticipates the season of 2008/09 with a new cable car of 8 persons capacity on the move Ronchi-Valbona-Le Cune (2070 p/h). It was mounted instead of two old lifts that had been carrying skiers on the mentioned move.

After last year's inauguration ofDaolasa-Val Mastellina  cable car, associated tracks and multimodal passenger terminal, Skirama Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta has no great news this year. Works are carried out on a final arrangement of the Mastellina course and lifts, which essentially helped in handling the crowd in Val di Sole. Another thing seems to finally be coming close to its realization - the link between Madonna di Campiglio and neighboring Pinzolo. Very logical link has not been released from a number of reasons, one of which is Pinzolo's uneasiness to become a "parking lot" for tourists skiing in posh Madonna, while Madonna did not want additional crowd on their slopes. It seems that it is now overcomed; regional leaders shook hands and promised to invest 25 million Euros for into construction of new lifts and slopes. Planned deadline for completion of works is autumn 2010.

Livigno also reported news of the postponed construction of Tagliede-Costaccia cable car, which should be added to last year Livigno-Tagliede set. The new cabin lift is supposed to replace the old 2-seater chairlift, but because of the delays in construction this will be done only next year.

Finally, good news for all fans of small ski resorts in the region of Veneto - Sappada. After a long period in which this, once very popular ski resort, constantly retrograded, authorities decided to invest into its modernization. By the beginning of the season new Pian dei Nidi lift should be built - a step in connecting the two separate sites: Sappada 2000 and Monte Sierra. However, Sappada will have to tread giant steps to reach the neighboring, much developed ski resorts. There are still no plans for the revitalization of closed Monte Ferro chairlift that rises from center of the town. With associated trails that are closed this is a punch for already small number of ski slopes in Sappada.

The same as last seasons, ski lift tickets prices rose again. Prices increased for about 5% and figures for a week on snow are now very close if not more than 200 Euros. But in the era of global price increases we did not expect anything else. For the time being, there is a hope for early and thick snow cover, so that ski season could begin at the end of November, as most ski resorts wish.