In Part Due to the Global Recession Several Ski Operators Are Cutting down Their Number of Catered Chalets
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Thanks to the recession skiing holiday sales dropped last winter.
Despite of strong pre season holiday bookings coupled with first class snow conditions.
This drop in vacationers follows on from five years of continuous growth in the ski industry, and the number of snowboarders decreased from 1.25. 1.3 million two winters ago to 900000 last year.
Partly due to skiers giving their annual snowboarding vacation a miss, and additional snowboarders who would generally have two or more ski holidays, merely took the one.
A fall of 15% was felt by the independent travel sector with a handful low priced airlines cutting the number of airplanes to several cities.
Tour operators also saw their numbers reducing by about the same amount.
However, the leading tour operators share of the market stayed at 72% and France retained its position as the most popular destination with nearly 40% of skiing holidays.
Because of this a lot of tour operators slashed the no. of luxury chalets they rent this winter.
Catered chalets in particular are going to see a reduction in skiers because a catered ski chalet costs more for the tour operator with regards to chefs and rent if it is not sold.
It remains unlikely that we shall find the last minute deals which were available this season.
Prices are probably going to to rise, prices are unlikely to increase much.
This season will undoubtedly pose serious problems for the ski industry that is impacted by the consequences of the credit crunch, fall in the value of the pound, increased fuel costs on top of high fixed running costs for snowboarding holiday companies.