| A new report shows that a skiing holiday has | | | | 'The difference in prices between different resorts is |
| reached it's highest ever price, and it's come at a | | | | surprising. We would expect some regional and local |
| time when the ski industry is trying to turnaround a | | | | variance but not to the extent we are seeing for the |
| drop in bookings last year. | | | | 2008 ski season in Europe and North America.' |
| The surprise report shows that the price of a typical | | | | The lower priced ski countries could see an upswing |
| ski holiday has risen everywhere in both Europe and | | | | in visitors in 2008 - much needed after a poor 2007 |
| Noth America - except for Germany and the United | | | | season in countries like Austria and Andorra. Both |
| States - with Canadian ski holidays rising in price as a | | | | countries are investing in their ski infrastructure and |
| direct result of the strong Canadian dollar against the | | | | benefitting too from low cost airlines offering more |
| Euro and British sterling. | | | | flights to skiiers. |
| Pushing prices up for the 2008 skiing season are not | | | | Several airlines recently announced a plan to |
| just higher aviation fuel costs and government levied | | | | encourage more trips to ski resorts by opening up |
| flight taxes, but lift passes, equipment hire and ski | | | | additional routes for travel to European ski resorts. |
| instructor lessons have all risen faster than inflation. | | | | These fly passengers directly to the airports that are |
| Comparing different ski resorts striking differences | | | | closest to several of the major skiing destinations for |
| emerge with ski lift passes costing 90 sterling in | | | | many individuals and families on holiday. For example, |
| Bulgaria and Romania - but over 240 sterling in Banff, | | | | the UK's biggest low cost airline flies passengers on |
| Canada - nearly treble the cost. | | | | holiday into Barcelona, which is the nearest airport to |
| And private ski lessons also showed great price | | | | the Andorra skiing resorts. |
| differentials. Some ski resorts in Romania are offering | | | | In addition to the flights taking passengers to ski at |
| lessons for 11 sterling, in Switzerland 35 nut in Banff it | | | | Andorra, there are several more flights connecting |
| gord up to 65, nearly six times the cost of their | | | | skiiers to their favourite ski destinations. Flights from |
| Romanian counterparts. | | | | London, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool and |
| Once the skiing is over for the day the price | | | | Newscastle all connect UK skiiers individuals to their |
| differences are still as sharp. While a cup of coffee in | | | | favourite ski resorts. |
| Italy is around one Euro, in Norway it is nearer to | | | | The reason airlines have chosen to increase the |
| three, and for those who prefer alcohol a beer in | | | | number of direct routes they provide to ski resorts |
| Bulgaria is a pound, but astonishingly over five pounds | | | | for the 2007 winter holiday period is due to the fact |
| in Norway - and the cost of a meal shows similar | | | | business is booming. As of the end of October, one |
| price differentials. | | | | airline had over 2.5 million bookings for individuals and |
| Commenting upon the report, an Andorra travel guide | | | | families wanting their flying services to travel to skiing |
| who include ski holidays information comments that | | | | destinations in Europe during the winter of 2008. |