NORWAY SEES SHARP INCREASE IN SKIERS

23rd March 2018

Last modified on August 31st, 2021

There has been a 15% increase in lift pass sales this winter with more visitors from the UK heading to the Scandinavian country. UPDATED

Like the rest of Europe the winter started with good snowfall and it pretty much got better and better with plenty of snow and cold temperatures.

“This winter has fortunately been a very good one in terms of snow, and it is clear that both improves working conditions for our members and attracts people to ski resorts all over the country,” said Camilla Syling from the industry organisation Alpinanleggenes Landsforening, AAL.

Figures from UK operators are showing a rise of between 15% and 30 % on passengers numbers compared to last winter.

There have been additional flights from Gatwick and Manchester with Norwegian Airlines.

“It’s very apparent that Norway is ‘en vogue’ and we have created an awareness and a profile for Norway so it can been seen as a credible ski alternative to the rest of Europe. The campaign is paying off and we will continue our campaigns via social and print media channels plus exhibitions, such as The Telegraph Ski Show in London, to ensure further awareness of Norway continues,” said Trevor De Villiers from Norway Home of Skiing.

The organisation represents some of the major resorts in Norway including Geillo, Hemsedal, Beitostolen, Trysil, Norefjell and Myrkdalen.

“We will also work hard with our sales partners to ensure we offer the best incentives to sell Norway and switch customers from the traditional destinations, as we know we offer something unique in terms of the overall winter experience which is very much in demand now by the consumer,” De Villiers added.

PlanetSKI visited Norway in December this winter and we have been regular visitors for the past 5 years or so.

PlanetSKI’s Norwegian Adventures

PlanetSKI in Norway

“The snow-sure resorts, the varied terrain and excellent family facilities in Norwegian resorts have always been popular with British skiers and our customers also like the traditional log cabins with wood fires, superb ski schools and wide slopes, perfect for families and beginners,” said Marion Telsnig from Crystal SKI.

The UK agent began offering Norway in its brochure for the first time this season and it has proved a success.

“It was Ski Solutions’ first season offering Norway to our clients and it was very successful with fantastic client feedback, so we look forward to sending many more people to our resorts of Geilo, Myrkdalen, Trysil and Beitostolen,” said the product manager for Ski Solutions, Paul Russell.

See here for the Norwegian ski holiday offers from Crystal Ski and also from Ski Solutions.

“It has been a fantastic winter here. We have had large amounts of snow, giving great conditions. There has been almost five metres of snow in all, with one and a half to two metres lying on the slopes. That has brought a lot of people to the mountains,” the director of Destination Hemsedal, Richard Taraldsen, told the state broadcaster, NRK.

With large amounts of snow and cold temperatures remaining it is forecast to be a bumper end to the winter.

Skiing goes into May in some areas and Hemsedal is predicting up to 25,000 people will be visiting over the Easter period.

As well as visitors from the UK there has also been an increase in people from the Netherlands skiing in Norway with extra flight routes and a focus on the Dutch market.