Because of the credit crunch skiing occupancies decreased this season.
Despite of cracking early reservations and great snow conditions.
These drops in holidaymakers follows seven years of sequential growth in the skiing industry, and the number of holidaymakers shrunk from 1.15 million in 2008 to under a million last winter.
This is partly due to vacationers giving their annual snowboarding break a miss, whilst other holiday makers who’d generally take two skiing holidays, merely had the one.
Sales for the independent travel sector fell by 15% with numerous cheap airlines reducing the no. of routes to certain cities.
Moreover tour operators saw the bookings decreasing by about the same amount.
Even so, the top 6 tour operators share remained at just over a healthy 70% and France retained its position as the most popular destination with 37% of skiing holidays.
Because of this several operators lowered the number of chalets they rent this year.
The catered chalet markets especially will see a fall in numbers as a catered ski chalet costs the operator more with regards to employees and lease when it is not sold.
It’s unlikely therefore that we will benefit from the last minute special offers which were around this season.
Although prices are in all likelihood to increase, costs are unlikely to go up substantially.
This winter will undoubtedly pose real issues for an industry that is affected by the results of the global recession, exchange rate, increased costs of fuel and high fixed running costs for luxury chalet businesses.
Next season skiers will become more cost sensitive, this will lead to a reversal of the last years that saw a increase in the independent travel sector.