Ski Holidays Have Brighter Future
Twenty per cent less people took ski holidays this year than two years ago
, but as the world comes out of recession the skiing industry are optimistic that the 2010/11 season will see a return to the slopes from people who have been cautious with their money recently.It could have been worse this year, but luckily early snow saw some of the Colorado resorts open in early October - the earliest for 40 years - while over in Europe the Pyrenees had high snowfall in early November - benefitting both French ski holidays and Andorra.
But while the weather may have been on the industry's side, the long, deep recession in both Europe and Northern America still saw a drop in the number of people taking to the slopes.
For many people ski holidays are a luxury item, while the family summer vacation is seen as much more of an essential item for expenditure, and while economies are coming out of recession many people have concerns about their own job security or the state of their business.
This is particularly relevant for the skiing industry - the recession was caused by a banking crisis and a disproportionate number of people who took skiing holidays in recent years worked in the banking and finance industries - often spending between four and eight thousand Euros on the trip and spending freely while in the resorts during their French ski holidays, in Andorra, Switzerland, Colorado and Canada.
And the lack of free spending Brits compared to recent years was noticeable, and keenly felt in the upmarket Aspen and Swiss ski holidays resorts, as London and New York's economies were impacted most by the financial crises sparked off by the failures of investment banks.
Normal spend level tourists from Britain were thinner on the ground too, not just because of their economy, but many of the European ski resorts are in the Eurozone, and Sterling had crashed against the Euro, with the cost of Italian, Andorra and French ski holidays costing more for British skiers once they were at their resorts, except for those who opted for an all inclusive package from companies who offer them.
So if there is optimism, where are the people coming from who will be taking ski holidays later this year?
In Europe's case it will be from across the continent, with British skiers maybe returning in high numbers.
And from Germany, whose economy has grown in the last two quarters, and is firmly out of recession, while France might see a good number of people taking domestic ski holidays.
For Andorra, their economy is one that doesn't rely purely on skiing, although tourism is an important aspect. As a tax haven a good number of people are employed in the finance and banking industries, and as the Andorra banks are independent the recession was felt less there than many other areas.
Property in Andorra hasn't dropped as much as other European countries either as it not only has a local market but also sees people taking Andorra residency, who look at the houses and Andorra apartments for sale.
Time will tell if the optimism in the ski holidays industry is being aclled too early.
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