Because of the credit crunch ski occupancies went down last snowboarding season.
Even with acceptable pre season reservations and first class snow conditions.
This fall in snowboarders comes after 7 years of continuous growth in the ski industry, and the number of vacationers came down from 1.25. 1.3 million in 2008/9 to less than a million last season.
Partly due to skiers giving the season a miss, and additional vacationers who’d ordinarily take two skiing trips, just had the one.
The independent travel sector fell by 15% with some budget airlines cutting the no. of airplanes to some destinations.
However tour operators also saw the reservations decreasing by a similar 15%.
However, the top six operators market share rested at just over a healthy 70% and the French Alps continued to remain the favourite skiing destination with about 37% of holidays.
This meant that several tour operators cut the no. of chalets they run this year.
The catered chalet markets will witness a a drop in clients due to the fact that a luxury catered chalet costs the operator more with regards to staff and rent when it is not occupied.
Therefore it’s unlikely that we shall find the last minute ski deals France which were around last season.
Whilst costs are expected to augment, they probably won’t increase considerably.
The next season beyond any doubt poses real issues for an industry that is influenced by the outcomes of the recession, exchange rate pressures, high fuel costs as well as high fixed operating costs for skiing holiday companies.
Next year skiers will be increasingly cost aware, which will contribute to an about face of recent trends which witnessed a development in the skiing industry.
