Swiss Ski Areas Report Good Season
8th April 2025
Last modified on April 11th, 2025
Swiss ski lift companies report an overall rise of 12% over the previous season with the largest growth at low altitude ski areas. Low ski areas in Austria have also seen growth.
The organisation, Remontées Mécaniques Suisse, attributes the performance to favourable weather conditions over the weekends and the good condition of the ski slopes.
Many resorts benefited from increased bookings, particularly during the school holiday period and, in a surprise, lower-altitude regions saw increases:
- The Vaud and Fribourg Alps +29%
- Central Switzerland +20%
- The Bernese Oberland +18%
- Eastern Switzerland +14%
- Ticino +11%
- Valais +9%
- Graubünden +3%
According to RMS the figures show that people appreciate small ski resorts when snow and piste conditions are good.
It says that families in particular like to visit these resorts.
Many resorts saw increased bookings, particularly during the school holiday period this season.
Adelboden, Switzerland. Image © PlanetSKI
The same trend has been seen in Austria as the lower resorts report an increase in lift pass sales.
There was low precipitation and mild temperatures in the Lower Austria region, but the ski resorts in Lower Austria hosted around 660,000 visits, a 25% increase over the previous three winters.
It seems people, mainly locals, are shunning the large resorts and heading for something more simple and at a better price.
The growth in interest in lower resorts in Switzerland and Austria is in contrast to the behaviour of British skiers who are heading higher.
“The real winners right now are places like Val Thorens in France, which is Europe’s highest ski resort as people have it in their minds ‘I must go higher’, said the CEO of SNO, Richard Sinclair, to Travel Weekly.
Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI
He also said “snowsure” resorts at higher altitudes are “the real winners” because of concerns about climate change affecting snowfall.
“Late season has been busy, but the mid-season less so.”
Here at PlanetSKI we will be examining the numbers and the data on last season as statistics/reports are released across the next few months, but the apparent growth in lower altitude areas is an interesting development.
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