U.S. Overtakes France as Top Ski Destination in the World
Internet users conduct over 100 billion global searches each month, and it appears that these days, more winter sports enthusiasts are searching for skiing destinations in the U.S. than any other country.
For years, France has held the title of top winter sports destination in the world, with its pristine Alpine resorts and Pyrenean vistas. The U.S. has always been a close rival, but over the past two years, France has seen the volume of its ski resort attendance take a smooth slide down the slopes, putting the U.S. at the top.
Marie Tissier, the spokesperson for Domaines Skiables de France (DSF), blames the weather for last year’s low attendance, saying, “The start of the season was very complicated because there was very little snow at low and medium altitudes … The larger stations did OK, but the smaller and middle-sized resorts didn’t come out of it so well. The problem was basically the weather, and that’s out of our hands. What we need this year is more snow earlier.”
The U.S. simply had better snow conditions last season. American resorts experienced an increased number of ski days on the west coast.
Additionally, the French Research Centre for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions reported back in 2010 that the cost of skiing holidays has reached levels beyond the means of most French families.
“Apart from the cost of winter holidays, it’s above all the cost of the sports and activities that 40% of French people object to,” said the report. “The general public has shown a desire for less costly activities.”
This possibly explains why less than 10% of French people actually take to the slopes for skiing and snowboarding each year. The country is home to more than 357 resorts, accounting for just less than nine percent of the world’s share, and the majority of skiers at these resorts are visitors from other countries. With the weather conditions becoming less suitable for good ski days, it seems that more skiers across the globe are choosing to hit America’s slopes instead.
- This entry was posted in Contributed by Contributor. Bookmark the permalink.
