In Part Due to the Depression a Lot of Snowboarding Operators Are Slashing Their Number of Catered Ski Chalets
July 30th, 2009Partly due to the global recession skiing holiday sales fell last winter.
Notwithstanding very good early on holiday bookings and fantastic skiing.
These reductions in no.s follows on from five years of growth within the skiing industry, and the number of holidaymakers fell from one million in 2008/9 to 950000 last year.
Perhaps due to snowboarders giving the season a miss, while other holiday makers who would typically have two or more ski holidays, just had the one.
A fall of 15% was felt by the independent travel sector and several no frills airlines cutting the no. of flights to some cities.
Tour operators witnessed their reservations going down by about the same amount.
Notwithstanding, the top operators share of the market remained at 72% and the Alps in France continued to remain the top holiday destination with nearly 40% of the English ski market.
Because of this several operators cut down the number of ski chalets they lease this year.
Catered ski holidays in particular are going to see a reduction in clients because a catered ski chalet costs the operator more in terms of chefs and rent if it is unsold.
It remains unlikely we shall benefit from the deals that were on the market last winter.
Costs are expected to go up, prices are unlikely to increase considerably.
This winter undoubtedly poses real problems for the skiing industry which is affected by the effects of the credit crunch, exchange rate, higher fuel costs as well as large fixed running costs for ski companies.
This year vacationers will become more price aware, which will add to an about face of the last years that saw a increase in the independent travel sector.
