The Valais cantonal government has finally given the green light to the development of the Porte du Soleil ski resort.

The modernization and extension of pistes was first approved by the four communes concerned back in 2006, but fierce opposition to those plans put a spanner in the works. 

The go-ahead from the cantonal government is the result of negotiations with the ecological movement.

As such, protecting the environment will be considered during the development.

Champery president Luc Fellay told public radio RTS they’ve overcome a major hurdle:

“It’s a big step forward,” he said. “It’s not just about more skiing in Champery—this will affect the whole of  the tourism sector in the surrounding area. We needed to know where we were going. But how fast this all happens depends on how quickly the companies concerned can get the money together.“