Partly Due to the Recession Numerous Skiing Businesses Will Be Cutting Their Amount of Catered Ski Chalets
July 30th, 2009
Partly due to the global recession snowboarding accommodation occupancies went down this season.
This is despite of strong pre season sales and first class skiing conditions.
This reduction in vacationers comes after five years of growth in the snowboarding industry, and the number of snowboarders went down from 1.15 million in 2008 to less than a million last winter.
Partly due to snowboarders giving the season a miss, whilst additional vacationers who would normally take two or more skiing trips, only took the one.
The independent travel sector fell by 15% and several low priced airlines reducing the no. of routes to some cities.
Tour operators also saw the sales reducing by about the same amount.
All the same, the top tour operators share of the market stayed at just over 70% and France continued to remain the most popular ski destination with about 37% of ski holidays.
Due to this several tour operators slashed the amount of catered chalets they operate this year.
The catered chalet markets especially will see a reduction in holiday makers due to the fact that a luxury catered chalet costs more with regards to hosts and chefs and rent if it is not occupied.
It seems unlikely that we will see the ski deals France that were up for grabs last season.
Whilst costs are probably going to to augment, costs are unlikely to increase a lot.
The 2009/10 winter without doubt presents grave issues for the ski industry which is touched by by the outcomes of the credit crunch, weakness of the pound against the euro, high costs of fuel on top of high fixed running costs for ski businesses.
Next winter vacationers will become progressively price aware, this will lead to a reversion of the last years that witnessed a growth in independent travel.