SKI SEASON 2013/14: Not too bad, all things considering

Easter Monday's Le Dauphiné (now behind the paywall) saw the paper reviewing the ski season just gone.

The overall conclusions, according to the professionals, are of a "broadly satisfactory" season, with occupancy rates of "between 58% and 69%".

This could be putting a slightly brave face on things.  The article goes on to say that most resorts are reporting a decline since last year, particularly in the Savoie, the southern Alps and the Jura.  The dodgy weather at the start of the season, indifferent economic situation and late school holidays have all been contributory factors....

Other headlines include:

• A further movement towards last minute and short stays
• Fewer opting for "all-inclusive" breaks
• The Brits apparently making a comeback
• Busy resorts at peak periods (December, February) but terrible low-season. For example, Bonneval-sur-Arc, which says skier numbers are up 3%, posted 86% occupancy at Christmas/New Year, but just 10% during January
• A "good" season in Val Thorens (+1.5%), which reports 80% occupancy, and will not beclosing until 11 May.  VT says 70% of its visitors are foreign
• Tignes is stable, which it is quite pleased with performance given the cancellation of the X-Games in March.  They had 30% occupation at Easter, thanks to the Belgians, Danes and Brits
• Val d'Isere is down 3% - they say that they had a particularly good season last year, making like-for-like improvement difficult.  Oh, and the negative image presented on by pesky lower resorts "in need of snow" hasn't helped Val, where l'or blanc has been plentiful

Empty Chairs: Les Arcs saw a 9% fall in visitor
numbers between 2009-12
(Source: Ski Adventures)

For more on the British market, which saw skier numbers tumble from 1.2m pre-crash to 900,000 in 2012/13, click here.