Surprisingly positive balance of large ski areas

Despite the absence of snow, the Swiss ski regions, especially the major destinations, are happy with the way the winter season is going so far. This was the result of a survey conducted by the Keystone-SDA news agency at various tourist destinations in Graubünden, Bern, Vaud, Valais and central Switzerland. On the other hand, smaller rail companies are having a hard time without artificial profit.

Unstable snow conditions at low altitudes have made winter sports enthusiasts increasingly try their luck in strictly high-altitude, snow-free areas. For example Moritz GR set a record for overnight stays in December. The resort in the Upper Engadine also recorded a plus in January.

Like before Corona

Davos-Klosters GR shows an 18 percent increase in overnight stays in the first three months of the season. “We are back to the level before the Corona years,” the destination media office of the Keystone-SDA news agency wrote.

In contrast, Flims Laax Falera GR reported a “weaker start to the season” due to a lack of snow. This was compensated for by good deeds at Christmas and sports holidays. “Overall, the occupancy rate in hotels by the end of February is comparable to a good to very good winter,” said the Laax media office.

Meanwhile, as the industry association Hotellerie Suisse Graubünden announced on demand, the prospects for the hotel industry in Graubünden are higher than the previous winter, which was already very strong for the entire winter season. “It looks like it’s going to be a very good winter and a very good sports holiday again.”

The Jungfrau Ski Area in the Bernese Oberland has recorded the fourth best start to the season in the last ten years. Jungfrau Railways Communications Manager Kathrin Naegeli said that in addition to guests skiing or snowboarding, there are many winter sports guests in the area on sled runs and winter hiking trails.

People are also satisfied in the two major tourist resorts of central Switzerland, Engelberg OW and Andermatt UR. “Engelberg can look back and see a very good winter season so far,” said Andres Lietha, director of Engelberg-Titlis Tourismus. Andermatt Swiss Alps media spokesman Stefan Kern said the season has developed “very positively” in Andermatt as well.

a great february

Destinations in the Vaud and Valais Alps are particularly pleased with the large number of reservations in the new year. In Ovronnaz VS, for example, the drop in visitor numbers during the Christmas holidays was compensated by up to 20 percent in January and February. Portes du Soleil sounds similar in Switzerland.

Sergei Aschwanden, manager of Vaud tourism destination Bex-Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets, said: “Despite a complicated start, we are happy with this season so far. There are a lot of people at the stations, hotel reservations are good. »

A large number of hotel reservations in major ski areas follow a general recovery trend in the industry after the Corona years. The number of overnight stays in January increased by 35 percent compared to the same month last year, according to the Federal Statistics Office’s (BFS) initial estimate on Friday. In December, the increase was 27.8 percent.

Small areas suffer

Unlike the large winter sports areas, the winter was extremely difficult for many small areas without artificial snowmaking. Some started the season late due to the lack of snow and had to re-close the slopes.

Sörenberg at Entlebuch LU, for example, only got off to a good start in mid-January. Too hot temperatures have resulted in a decline in skiing there. Sales figures for mountain railways are now about 35 percent behind the previous year.

Others, like the Splügen-Tambo GR, survived Christmas week, but were then forced to shut down temporarily due to the warmer weather. Figures on the financial impact of the closures are not yet available. In general, it is likely that large ski areas have benefited from the absence of snow at smaller ones at lower altitudes.

High electricity prices

Another challenge for tourism was high energy prices. However, they did not have the same effect everywhere. Industry association Bergbahnen Graubünden, on request, explained that the effects are very company-specific.

For example, Weisse Arena Group, operator of the Laax ski area, bought electricity “some time ago” for the years 2022-2024. Therefore, it was not affected much by the recent price increase.

In the Jungfrau region, electricity and diesel prices, sometimes drastically increased, were the reason for the higher upfront price of the Top4 ski pass for adults (Adelboden-Lenk, Gstaad, Jungfrau Ski Area and Meiringen-Hasliberg). Communications officer Naegeli said that the final calculations for the 2022/23 winter season will show the overall impact of high energy prices.

By contrast, price increases were “not a problem” at Andermatt. There, mountain railways are trying to compensate for high energy prices with energy-saving measures wherever possible. An additional cost of one million Swiss francs was expected at the Bergbahnen Sörenberg. (SDA/koh)

Source :Blick