| Research in the ski industry shows a surprise rise in | | | | variance but not to the extent we saw for the 2008 |
| the typical price of a skiing holiday this year. | | | | ski season in Europe and North America.' |
| The surprise report shows that the price of a typical | | | | The lower priced ski countries could see an upswing |
| ski holiday for the 2008 ski season rose everywhere | | | | in visitors in 2009 - much needed after a poor 2007 |
| in both Europe and Noth America - except for | | | | season in countries like Austria and Andorra, both of |
| Germany and the United States - with Canadian ski | | | | which recovered well this year but could do with a |
| holidays rising in price fastest as a direct result of the | | | | good second year in a row. Both countries are |
| strong Canadian dollar against the Euro and British | | | | investing in their ski infrastructure and benefitting too |
| sterling. | | | | from low cost airlines offering more flights to skiiers. |
| Pushing prices up for the 2008 skiing season were | | | | Several airlines recently announced a plan to |
| not just higher aviation fuel costs and government | | | | encourage more trips to ski resorts by opening up |
| levied flight taxes, but lift passes, equipment hire and | | | | additional routes for travel to European ski resorts. |
| ski instructor lessons all rose faster than inflation. | | | | These fly passengers directly to the airports that are |
| Comparing different ski resorts striking differences | | | | closest to several of the major skiing destinations for |
| emerge with ski lift passes costing 90 sterling in | | | | many individuals and families on holiday. For example, |
| Bulgaria and Romania - but over 240 sterling in Banff, | | | | the UK's biggest low cost airline flies passengers on |
| Canada - nearly treble the cost. | | | | holiday into Barcelona, which is the nearest airport to |
| And private ski lessons also showed great price | | | | the Andorra skiing resorts. |
| differentials. Some ski resorts in Romania were | | | | In addition to the flights taking passengers to ski at |
| offering lessons for 11 sterling this year, in | | | | Andorra, there are several more flights connecting |
| Switzerland 35, but in Banff it went up to 65 sterling, | | | | skiiers to their favourite ski destinations. Flights from |
| nearly six times the cost of their Romanian | | | | London, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool and |
| counterparts. | | | | Newscastle all connect UK ski holidaymakers to their |
| Once the skiing is over for the day the price | | | | favourite ski resorts. |
| differences were still as sharp for skiiers this year. | | | | The reason airlines have chosen to increase the |
| While a cup of coffee in Italy is around one Euro, in | | | | number of direct routes they provide to ski resorts |
| Norway it is nearer to three, and for those who | | | | for the 2008 and 2009 winter holiday periods is due |
| prefer alcohol a beer in Bulgaria is a pound, but | | | | to the fact business is booming. As of the end of |
| astonishingly over five pounds in Norway - and the | | | | October last year for example, one airline had over |
| cost of a meal shows similar price differentials. | | | | 2.5 million bookings for individuals and families wanting |
| Commenting upon the report, an Andorra travel guide | | | | their flying services to travel to skiing destinations in |
| who include ski holidays information comments that | | | | Europe during this winter, and 2009 could see even |
| 'The difference in prices between different resorts is | | | | more people taking a ski holiday. |
| surprising. We would expect some regional and local | | | | |