The ski season looks different this year, but the important thing is that it’s changing for the better and that it will help a lot of people have some activities and fun during this period of life.
The economic downfall which is a result of COVID-19 restrictions has had an impact on most industries but tends to concentrate on certain types of businesses the most. In the United Kingdom GDP (gross domestic product) has shrunk by 19,8% from April to June 2020., which is a record. In the U.S. 14,6 million people lost their jobs from February until June and the debt held by the public is $20,8 trillion. The unemployment rate in Canada was 13,5% in May, which is the highest since 1976.
Most hospitality services, such as restaurants, pubs, and hotels recorded almost no gain in April and May, as well as tourism, which has been seriously impacted by the pandemic. Tourism is one of the largest economic sectors in the world, and the third-largest in the export category, after chemicals and fuels. It represents approximately 20% of GDP for some countries, meaning that the impact of COVID-19 on tourism is in fact affecting the whole country in every sector.
Here we are about to explore how the pandemic affects the ski market, what has happened so far, and how the ski industry should get back on track. If you are curious about this topic, you are in the right place. Let’s dive in!
What did the pandemic bring to the snow sports industry?
Did you know that there are over 470 mountain resorts for skiing and snowboarding in the U.S. and that over 50 million visitors go there every year? Not to mention that the industry supports over half a million jobs. Now you can imagine how much the ski market suffered when 93% of resorts were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Most ski companies expected to be flat about 15% or 20% compared to last year. The ski industry in the U.S. lost $2 billion due to economic collapse from coronavirus crises and the skier visits fell 14% in the 2019-20 season. Resorts were forced to close in March when the pandemic hit. The situation seems critical, but it has finally begun changing for the better. In season 2020-21, many people have decided to go on a ski trip. The team at https://hankinmtn.com has given excellent advice on how to stay safe but still have an amazing experience. Things are slowly getting back to normal and if you are responsible and cautious, a ski trip can be great for your physical and mental health.
What does this season hold?
Heads of the winter sports industry have done everything to ensure that skiing centers across the country could open safely this winter. Measures such as social distancing and masks are in place, as well as the limited number of guests allowed every day. Most ski resorts require their guests to make their reservations ahead of time, so they can be more organized and certain that the measures will be followed. Big companies have been carefully preparing for the new season since March and they have released their plans for the season a few months ago to make sure their guests understand all the rules and feel safe.
Some companies explained that they will prioritize their loyal customers (pass holders) because of the limited number of guests. This will allow the ski centers to lock in gain, which will bring them stability when a season starts. Many resorts plan to sell single-day lift tickets, but still, limit the total number of visitors. Executive officers have made a plan and decided how many tickets can be sold in advance. They took into account the number of season passes, where the visitors live, which resorts were their favorite in the past, the snow conditions, the types of terrain, etc. This will help the resorts function with the reduced capacities and people maintain adequate social distance.
The visitors have a great personal responsibility as well. Guests should politely remind each other to keep their masks on, as well as the distance. Not to mention personal hygiene, washing their hands frequently, etc. Many resorts even decided to have some additional employees to keep people safely distanced and remind them to put their masks on. Neither visitors nor staff wants to see the season end.
Photo by Pexels from Pixabay
The mountains and skiing can provide visitors with a much-needed release from the pandemic stress, and this may be the reason why guests are keen on following all the rules. In many resorts, restaurants are closed or only a limited number of people can eat, so people often eat outside and they seem to enjoy it very much.
If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s that people want to be outdoors, in the fresh air and that being isolated and closed at your home is very stressful for most of us. The ski season looks different this year, but the important thing is that it’s changing for the better and that it will help a lot of people have some activities and fun during this period of life.
Main photo by Полина Андреева from Pixabay
