Cable cars crammed with tourists winding their way up mountains is a scene you might associate with the Alps.
Could it, however, be headed for Northern Ireland soon?
The majestic Mourne Mountains, which are nestled close to the south Down coast, draw a fair amount of tourists.
But it's fair to say that the region doesn't quite have the same appeal on a global scale as places like the Giant's Causeway or Titanic Visitor Center.
The £44 million Mournes Gateway Project is intended to change everything, according to the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Gondolas or cable cars would travel a 1 km route through the mountains starting at Donard Park as part of the ambitious project.
They would travel 230 meters to a brand-new visitor center that had been built at Thomas Quarry.
The project, according to the council, is anticipated to be finished in 2029 and will be able to accommodate 350,000 visitors annually.
A local assembly member has called the gondola project a "vanity project," and the National Trust has stated that it has "significant concerns" about the environmental impact. However, not everyone is in favor of the gondola plan.
The project will move forward while more consultation is conducted and potential alternatives are taken into consideration, as opposed to an Alliance Party motion that was up for discussion earlier this month in the council.
According to Patrick Brown of the Alliance Party, his party is concerned about the project's financial viability as well as its potential effects on the environment and aesthetics.
By erecting this metal monstrosity on the Mournes, he claimed, "I actually think we're running the risk of damaging our most valuable natural asset.".
So, in the long run, in my opinion, it's detrimental to the environment and the local community.
"It's very difficult to put a dollar amount on that, but I'd say it well exceeds £44m, and we shouldn't sacrifice the environment for economic growth," the speaker said. ".
He questioned "spending a huge amount of money on a vanity project like this one," claiming that Newcastle, which is located in the shadow of the Mournes, is "already full to bursting in the peak summer months.".
Colin McGrath of the South Down assembly disagreed, calling the project a "significant opportunity" for the region.
It would be naive to claim that the Marble Arch Cave, the Titanic Center, the Giant's Causeway, and other attractions are not in direct competition with us, he said.
"I am fortunate in my life to have visited many locations in these islands, in Europe, and beyond, and it's features like this that attract tourists.
"I think that would be an exciting energiser to bring people into the area. You think of a gondola halfway up a mountain to a visitor center with an interpretive center, a café, and other facilities. ".
The DUP did not participate in the council vote this month because, according to councillor Glyn Hanna, they want to see exactly how the project will turn out before fully committing.
Mr. Hanna said, "I believe there are numerous benefits; I simply want to see all the environmental impact assessments.".
"I believe that if done properly, it will have a significant economic impact. In terms of bringing in tourists to south Down, I actually believe this to be transformative.
It would be a feature that neither Portrush nor Portstewart [on the north coast] possess. ".
You must keep in mind that many disabled people are unable to climb the mountain; this gives them access to it, he continued. ".
Of the £44 million planned for the project, £30 million is to come from the Belfast Regional City Deal, which is money from the UK government for local projects, and the remaining £14 million is to come from the Newry, Mourne, and Down Council.
The involvement of the Treasury, according to Colin McGrath, should reassure people.
He stated, "You're talking about a very strong economic case that has been examined by Treasury Department officials in London.
"We're not talking about figures from the back of cigarette papers, so if something wasn't right in there, I think they would have found it. ".
Glyn Hanna of the DUP stated that the funds are intended specifically for the Gateway Project.
"The £30m is lost, it goes back," he said. "If this project doesn't move forward.".
The National Trust is worried, but not about the financial details.
The trust told BBC News NI that it had repeatedly brought up its serious concerns with the Newry Mourne and Down Council regarding the project's potential environmental effects.
Given the already negative effects on the environment brought on by an increase in visitors, we think any new proposals for this area should put sustainable tourism at their core to ensure the community, environment, and local economy can prosper now and in the future. .
We believe the project is still in the conceptual phase, and we would like to know that all of the issues we have repeatedly raised will be taken into full account. ".
According to Mr. McGrath, environmental concerns are reasonable.
But he continued: "There is a robust process, and a number of different strands of environmental protection are being evaluated.
"I'm pleased to see that the council is checking all the environmental boxes to the best of its ability. ".
According to Mr. Hanna of the DUP, "not one tree" would be cut down as part of the project.
It's all up on stilts, so it's very environmentally friendly, and if it [the visitor center] were taken away the next day, there would be absolutely no footprint left behind, he claimed.
According to the council, the project will give visitors a "standout experience.".
The building was strategically placed, according to the statement, to provide views of Newcastle, the Irish Sea, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and existing site features like a waterfall and rock formations.
People won't be able to venture outside and explore the mountains themselves, according to Patrick Brown of Alliance, who said they would be taken to the visitor center and then brought back down.
Once you do it, you don't go back, he said, adding that it is the kind of thing.
The Giant's Causeway is more appealing, but this isn't. ".
Whatever the conflicting views on the project, it's obvious that it's still just a concept.
The council plans to submit a planning application in 2025, and if it is accepted, construction would start in 2026.
However, by the turn of the century, cable cars in the Mournes might very well be a reality.
