Ski Holiday Prices On A Hike

Research in the ski industry shows a surprise rise invariance 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 typicalThe lower priced ski countries could see an upswing
ski holiday for the 2008 ski season rose everywherein visitors in 2009 - much needed after a poor 2007
in both Europe and Noth America - except forseason in countries like Austria and Andorra, both of
Germany and the United States - with Canadian skiwhich recovered well this year but could do with a
holidays rising in price fastest as a direct result of thegood second year in a row. Both countries are
strong Canadian dollar against the Euro and Britishinvesting 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 wereSeveral airlines recently announced a plan to
not just higher aviation fuel costs and governmentencourage more trips to ski resorts by opening up
levied flight taxes, but lift passes, equipment hire andadditional 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 differencesclosest to several of the major skiing destinations for
emerge with ski lift passes costing 90 sterling inmany 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 pricethe Andorra skiing resorts.
differentials. Some ski resorts in Romania wereIn addition to the flights taking passengers to ski at
offering lessons for 11 sterling this year, inAndorra, 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 RomanianLondon, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool and
counterparts.Newscastle all connect UK ski holidaymakers to their
Once the skiing is over for the day the pricefavourite 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, innumber of direct routes they provide to ski resorts
Norway it is nearer to three, and for those whofor the 2008 and 2009 winter holiday periods is due
prefer alcohol a beer in Bulgaria is a pound, butto the fact business is booming. As of the end of
astonishingly over five pounds in Norway - and theOctober 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 guidetheir flying services to travel to skiing destinations in
who include ski holidays information comments thatEurope during this winter, and 2009 could see even
'The difference in prices between different resorts ismore people taking a ski holiday.
surprising. We would expect some regional and local