Where to Ski And Snowboard - Skiers plan to hit pistes next winter

Skiers plan to hit pistes next winter

3rd June 2020, by Abi Butcher

Champoluc slopes: ski tour operators report skiers intend to holiday next winter

Ski tour operators are reporting that skiers are feeling positive about the 2020/21 winter season and planning to take ski holidays.

A customer survey by French specialist Peak Retreats reports that 84 per cent of its client base intend to ski next winter; with 18 per cent of respondents of a survey of more than 2100 people from its client database saying they are planning more than one trip.

“This could be those who are looking to make up for holidays missed at the end of the 2019/20 winter season or it could indicate a wider shift to a ‘carpe diem’ mentality with skiers wanting to make the most of the season,” said Peak Retreats.

This is hugely positive news for the ski industry, which is still coping with massive problems following the abrupt, early end of last ski season and all the associated costs due to the coronavirus pandemic and European lockdown.

Roger Walker of Ski 2, which this coming winter will celebrate its 22nd year of operating in Champoluc, Italy, as well as in the Portes du Soleil, France, told Where to Ski and Snowboard that already the vast majority of around 1000 clients who had to cancel travel over Easter due to Covid 19.

“We had over 1,000 clients still to travel over Easter, but the vast majority have been amazing, many offering to postpone to next winter to support us,” said Mr Walker. “The combination of these postponed holidays and a steady flow of new enquiries means that we are very encouraged by them. The hoteliers in Italy are hoping that they will be able to open again in the coming months to capture some of the local summer business and then be back open fully for December 2020.”

Italy is opening its borders to citizens of several European countries today (3 June) and the ski resort of Cortina was the first in Italy to restart operations for the summer season, reopening its Lagazuoi cable car on 30 May. Other lifts will follow in July, and a handful of mountain lodges, hotels, restaurants and shops have already started the season.

From its survey, Peak Retreats reports that clients are mainly planning to holiday this summer in the UK, or not bother at all, due to the uncertainty over travel — possibly resulting in a stronger resolve to hit the ski slopes over the 2020/21 winter season.