The latest International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism by Swiss expert Laurent Vanat was released yesterday, looking at data from the 2021/22 winter season.

The report shows that after two difficult years due to the pandemic, the ski world has recovered well.

Vanat’s media presentation yesterday was packed full of insights. These are some of the highlights that stood out for us:

1. Ski numbers have recovered since the pandemic

Globally, attendance levels jumped back up to 370 million skier visits, from 201 million in the previous Covid-affected winter.

2. USA leads the way

In recent years, France and the USA have swapped places at the top of the world rankings, but a record season in America and the final Covid restrictions in France sealed the USA’s place at the top of the chart.

3. Lift prices in the US are most expensive in the world

It’s even more impressive that there were more skier visits in the USA than any other country when you take into account that lift passes in America cost significantly more than other major ski nations.

4. The big are getting bigger

Vanat also noted the continual rise of large companies that own multiple ski resorts. Vail Resorts continued expansion means that they now own over 40 resorts, representing almost 20 million skier visits.

In Europe, Compagnie des Alpes’ focus on fewer, but larger resorts, means that their resorts received almost 15 million skier visits in 2021/22.

The report shows that while small resorts total 87% of all resorts they only represent 26% of global attendances.

5. Skiing faces multiple challenges

The Covid pandemic highlighted the unpredictable threats the travel industry can face. Added to that the Ukraine conflict has led to sudden increases in the cost of energy.

Climate change is evidently an existential threat to the ski industry, but other challenges that are arising around the competition for diminishing resources such as water, include the first signs of ‘ski bashing’ and even sabotage.

Hard copies of the report can be purchased online through Laurent Vanat’s website (www.vanat.ch).