The UK snowsports market fell by 6% across all sectors in 2008/9 according to the Ski Club of Great Britain’s annual Snowsports Analysis report. The total UK snowsports market is now reported at 1.27 million people.
The decline in overall numbers can be attributed to the economic climate and the weak pound, although the report suggests that the excellent snow conditions may have influenced more people not to forego their wintersports holiday. Additionally the report discusses a returning confidence to the industry and last season’s great snow acting as a catalyst for more people to start skiing again or go for the first time.
A 2% rise in the tour operator market means it now makes up 79% of the overall market. This increase is at the expense of the independent sector, which now sits at 21%. It seems more skiers favoured a package holiday as this enabled them to know the upfront cost of their holiday. The increased cost of flying at peak times with
France continues to dominate the UK snowsports market with a 43% share – this has stayed static from 2007/8. Austria increased their market share by 2% and Italy and Switzerland both saw a 1% increase in market share which meant there was a small decline in visitors to the USA and Canadian resorts and to Andorra and Bulgaria.
The report goes on to identify the rise in the average cost of a snowsports holiday, going from £664 (per person) in 2007/8 to £686 in 2008/9. The pound’s weakness against the Euro and Swiss Franc meant that there were increased costs for holiday companies which in turn were passed on to the consumer.
Caroline
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