In Part Due to the Depression Numerous Ski Operators Are Slashing Their Number of Luxury Catered Chalets
Partly due to the global recession skiing accommodation occupancies decreased last season.
Even with very good early season sales coupled with first class snow fall.
This reduction in numbers follows five years of sequential growth in the skiing industry, and the number of snowboarders fell from 1.2 million two seasons ago to 900000 last ski season.
Perhaps due to skiers giving the season a miss, while additional skiers who would ordinarily take 2 snowboarding breaks, just had one.
A fall of 15% was felt by the independent travel sector with numerous low priced airlines reducing the amount of airplanes to certain airports.
Some tour operators witnessed the reservations going down by 15%.
Even so, the leading tour operators market share continued at 72% and France retained its position as the most popular holiday destination with nearly 40% of holidays.
Because of this many ski operators lowered the total number of ski chalets they run this coming winter.
Catered ski chalets in particular are going to witness a a drop in numbers as a luxury catered chalet costs the operator more with regards to chalet chefs and rental when it is not sold.
Therefore it’s unlikely we will see the last minute special offers which were up for grabs this year.
And prices for skiing holidays will go up, prices are unlikely to rise considerably.
Next season without doubt presents real challenges for the snowboarding industry which is impacted by the events of the global recession, weakness of the pound, high fuel costs and large fixed operating costs for skiing companies.
