Inflation does not deter the French from going skiing.
One in five (19%) intend to take a breath of fresh air in the mountains this winter, according to a recent OpinionWay poll for Ginkoia*, a software publisher for the sports business.
“
Like last year, winter sports remain an unmissable event for the French
,” comments Thierry Briet, general manager of Ginkoia, quoted in a press release.
The proportion of French people planning to take a vacation in the mountains is indeed stable compared to last year (-1 point).
Of these 19%, 6% have even already made their reservation.
And this, despite persistent concerns about household purchasing power.
Read alsoSki resorts: the season looks promising, despite an increase in the price of ski passes
“
For the first time
”, also underlines the barometer, the French seem to favor the Christmas holidays this year to go skiing.
Among those who want to go to winter sports, 30% plan to leave during this period (+9 points compared to 2021), compared to 23% during the winter holidays in February-March 2023 (-1 point).
The average length of stay remains stable, around one week (8 days this year, compared to 7 days in 2021).
Another element, "
high altitude ski resorts will be more popular this year (+2 points) and that low altitude resorts are losing interest among respondents (-9 points)
", points out the study.
Skiing also remains the favorite activity of mountain vacationers (75%), although snowshoeing (65%) and sledding (62%) also remain popular pastimes.
Inflation worries skiers
This study announces a good season for winter sports resorts.
The National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts (ANMSM) also wants to be optimistic.
“
The first trends for the upcoming winter season are encouraging for the moment
,” indicated its president, Jean-Luc Bloch, last week.
The National Observatory of mountain resorts anticipates a 7% increase over one year in the forecast occupancy rate of resorts for the whole of the coming season.
Read also Due to lack of snow, Val Thorens and Val d'Isère postpone the opening of the ski slopes
Still, the French will not leave with a completely light mind.
Blame it on the uncertain economic context and worries about purchasing power.
Eight out of ten holidaymakers (81%) “
aim to change their consumption habits to cope with rising prices
”.
They are 29% to admit that they will compare prices more, 28% will be careful to respect their budget, and 25% even say that they will spend less on leisure activities, such as going out or restaurants.
We can already expect an increase in the prices of ski passes, warns the ANMSM: the cards "
will increase between 5 and 8%
", indicated Jean-Luc Bloch indeed last week.
*Opinion Way survey for Ginkoia, carried out by self-administered online questionnaire from October 12 to 14, 2022 with a sample of 1,972 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over, formed according to quota methods, with regard to criteria of sex, age, socio-professional category, urban area category and region of residence.