France remains top snowsports destination
France remains the most popular ski and snowboard destination with more than four in ten heading to the Alp resorts, the Ski Club of Great Britain has said in its annual report.
It held 42% of the market, the same as the 2003/04 season, with Val D’Isere and Courcheval the most popular resorts.
Austria was a distant second, with 18%, up from 17% the previous year, helped by good snow conditions and strong marketing.
It was followed by Italy (down 17% to 16%) and Andorra (down 8% to 7%).
Bulgaria, an increasingly popular destination, grew its share from 2% to 3% with the US and Switzerland static at 4% and 3% respectively and Canada falling from 5% to 4%.
The average price of a snowsports holiday increased from £645 per person in 03/04 to just under £670.
Catered chalets were the most popular accommodation, rising from 34% to 38%, with hotels falling from 33% to 30% and self-catering apartments from 19% to 17%.
“This reflects the attitude that chalet accommodation gives hassle-free and easy holidays,” the report stated.
An increasing number of people are spending two weeks on the slops although it still represents only 3% of the overall market, up from 1% in 03/04. Seven-day holidays slipped from 81% to 78%.
“Good deals on longer holidays may be responsible as well as rise in Southern Hemisphere skiing with more specialist tour operators offering summer skiing,” the Ski Club said in its findings.
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