The Global Ski Industry: Skier Visits

[ChrisC]

I saw this story in my SnowBrain's feed. I had to check sources because, frankly, they make things up, especially while the leader is off skiing or guiding.

I was especially surprised by Switzerland's skier day numbers compared to its neighbors; they are 50% less than those of France or Austria.

The Global Ski Industry Leaders: Top 9 Countries by Skier Visits - SnowBrains

Each winter, millions of skiers and snowboarders flock to mountains across the globe in search of powder, adventure, and alpine charm—but some countries draw significantly larger crowds than others. The global ski industry is powered by less than a handful of nations that consistently dominate...

snowbrains.com

According to Laurent Vanat’s 2025 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism, which covers the 2023–24 ski season, the top European countries by skier visits are:

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France – 51.9 million skier visits​

France officially takes the lead in Europe, with nearly 52 million skier visits, narrowly surpassing Austria.

Austria – 50.1 million skier visits​

Austria follows closely, with approximately 50.1 million skier visits during the same season.

Italy – 32.0 million skier visits​

Italy ranks third among European countries, with around 32 million skier visits, marking significant growth.

Switzerland – 23.14 million skier visits​

Switzerland logs about 23.14 million skier visits—just barely more than China—placing it fourth in Europe, according to snowbrains.com.

Sweden – 10.5 million skier visits​

Sweden is the fifth-largest European country and ninth worldwide, with 10.5 million skier visits in 2023–24.

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Top 5 in Europe (by skier visits, 2023–24 season):​

Rank	Country	Skier Visits (million)
1	France	51.9
2	Austria	50.1
3	Italy	32.0
4	Switzerland	23.14
5	Sweden	10.5

Summary at a Glance​

Region/Country	Performance in 2023–24
Global	366 M skier visits (stable, post-COVID)
China, Italy, Chile	Record-high seasons
USA, Scandinavia, Russia	Strong growth
France, Austria	Still recovering
Japan, Germany	Historic lows in skier visits

Just 12% of ski resorts globally account for 73% of all skier visits, indicating a highly skewed distribution.

 

[EMSC]

The number for France boggles my mind. So many Huge ski circus resorts but way less visits than the US? That makes no sense to me. Not to mention the enormous infrastructure in Europe compared to North America...

Top 9 countries in the world

In case you wonder where some other top countries place. eg anyone over 10M visits.

 

[ChrisC]

The number for France boggles my mind. So many Huge ski circus resorts but way less visits than the US? That makes no sense to me. Not to mention the enormous infrastructure in Europe compared to North America...

The resorts of the French Alps are so highly clustered in the Alps. Maybe the total size of the Colorado Rockies? And to fit almost 5x the skier days into the same area? (Of course, there are French ski areas in the Pyrenees and Central Massif, but these pale in comparison to the Alps resorts.)

It's impressive that the French RN90 does not resemble Colorado's I-70 most of the time, as it serves the 3 Vallées, Paradiski, and Val/Tignes areas - - busier than Summit County, Vail/Beaver Creek, and Winter Park. A lot more buses in France, and skiers on multi-day holidays.

The main access road into the Les 3 Vallées ski area, which includes resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel, and Val Thorens, is the RN90, a dual-carriageway that leads towards Moûtiers.

 

[ChrisC]

I was able to find a list of Ski Areas with more than 1 million skier days. The Laurent Vanat "International Report on Snow and Mountain Tourism" studies are pay-walled, especially recent versions.

Therefore, I needed to find one that was a few years older and not impacted by the COVID-19 closure data, as all French and Italian resorts had closures or restrictions for extended periods.

Example of a Closure Report published in 2022 for the ski season 2020-21: 2022 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism
Therefore, I reviewed this report prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for ski season 2019-20: 2020 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism

Skier visits do not fluctuate significantly year-to-year, unless a drought or a global pandemic occurs.

What strikes me is the number of Austrian resorts on this list. Many are relative 'no names' in global ski marketing. Specifically, the ones that stand out are:

• SkiWelt - Known, but assume Munich/Salzburg day trips/resort pushed it up.
• Flachau - A Day Trip or Resort for Salzburg?
• Zillertal resorts (Zillertal/Arena, Mayrhofen, and Hochzillertal). The piste maps make them look huge, but unheard of in the US.
• Silverretta-Montafon.
• Sarfaus - just surprised.
• Schladming
• Stubai - Year-round skiing and Innsbruck ski days add up.

Others:

• Grandvilira - Andora's mega resort.
• Salen - Sweden's mega resort of small mountains.

The French mega-resorts are not consolidated and reported by major lift company components, but reported collectively, and are huge:

• 3 Vallees (Val Thorens/Orelle + Courchevel-Meribel + Les Menuires) = 2m+1.5m+1.5m = 6M. I am surprised, Courchevel-Meribel is not a bigger number?
• Paradiski (La Plagne + Les Arcs) = 2.5m + 2m = 4.5m. So, La Plagne is the largest single ski area by skier days? I believe it with the size and massive lodging villages.
• Val d'ISere + Tignes = 1.5 + 1.5m = 3m.

Chamonix, Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes, and Serre Chevalier are all 1m to 1.5+m - as well as Flaine and Avoriaz.

 

[ChrisC]

I am always impressed by the fact that Wachusetts receives over 400,000 skier days per year, thanks to day trips, half days, and night skiing.

That's more than almost any New England outside of Killington, Sunday River, or Okemo - and likely larger than Stowe, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, anything in New Hampshire, etc.

I had heard this number before, but it got reported again:
2021 https://www.stormskiing.com/p/podcast-65-wachusett-mountain-president
2015 https://www.skimag.com/adventure/back-east

 

[Tony Crocker]

The Laurent Vanat "International Report on Snow and Mountain Tourism" studies are pay-walled, especially recent versions.

I have a source providing the more recent ones. I have the last 6 and 9 of the last 10.

I am always impressed by the fact that Wachusett receives over 400,000 skier days per year, thanks to day trips, half days, and night skiing.

Wachusett is only slightly smaller than one of the Big Bear areas, and similarly averages about 100 inches natural snow. The two Big Bear areas combined do about 800,000 skier visits. ChrisC is one of the few people who could compare their skiing merits, keeping in mind that the off-piste he skied at Bear Mt. is rarely covered adequately.

 

[ChrisC]

Wachusett is only slightly smaller than one of the Big Bear areas, and similarly averages about 100 inches natural snow. The two Big Bear areas combined do about 800,000 skier visits. ChrisC is one of the few people who could compare their skiing merits, keeping in mind that the off-piste he skied at Bear Mt. is rarely covered adequately.

Wachusett was expanded in the 1980s to become a 1,000-foot vertical drop ski area, and is considered the best of the suburban Boston ski areas (versus Nashoba, Blue Hills, Ward, etc.) It has had to overcome numerous legal and environmental hurdles to grow taller, expand snowmaking operations, cut down a tree, and/or stay relevant. I remember endless fights over a stand of old-growth forest somewhere on the property. Brief history: https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/wachusett.php

Wachusett is also a giant magnet for racing. New York City would be fortunate to have something similar within 90 minutes of the city. It does in the form of Vernon Valley-Great Gorge/Mountain Creek, NJ, but I am unfamiliar with programs there. Those ski areas, combined with Action Park, were mismanaged and mostly a semi-death trap, especially Action Park. The Catskills are too far, and other suburban NY areas are really bad: Sterling Forest, Big Bich/Thunder Mt., Mt. Peter, etc. OK for learning, a park, or some racing.

Wachusett also ran an incessant radio jingle that almost anyone can imitate after a winter in Eastern Massachusetts ("Waaaa-wa-wa-chusett"). That and "Sunday River Snow". (Les Otten was brilliant in his non-stop Boston marketing, making Sunday River seem close by. Reality: Stowe or Sugarbush were the same driving distance, and no need to go to Sunday River for less snow, or its snowmaking.


However, Wachustts is not located inside the Rte. 128 (I-95) or I-495 beltways, and is 75 minutes or more away from the city with traffic. I found it much better to travel to Southern New Hampshire (90-100 minutes to Gunstock, Mt. Sunapee, and Ragged Mountain), as there was better snow, temperatures, and terrain (in terms of trails, lifts, and vertical drop). But for night skiing or a snow day when there's no work from home, Wachusetts is great!

The 5 Best Ski Resorts Near Boston, 2024/25 https://www.snowpak.com/massachusetts/closest-ski-resorts-near-boston
Mostly agree with this list.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are significantly better in terms of size, snow quality, views, elevation, and more. Likely, almost 30-50% of winter storms might result in some rain at Wachusetts, and most of the mountain is relatively flat except for its "Summit Chair." Compared to the southern New Hampshire day mountains mentioned above and linked.

Someone on Reddit marked up the Wachusett trail map.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are significantly better in terms of size, snow quality, views, elevation, and more.

I suspected as much. The dry climate has some virtues: it helps with the snowmaking and the rain events usually aren't that intense. The "Inside Slider" storms are not big, but they are nearly always all snow. And while I think of Big Bear as very intermediate pitch, Wachusett is probably flatter.

FYI Liz thinks Hunter is more challenging than Big Bear.

 

[ChrisC]

FYI Liz thinks Hunter is more challenging than Big Bear.

Hunter Mountain is a decently steep mountain for the East Coast, offering the best reliable, all-around ski experience south of the Adirondacks, Vermont, and New Hampshire, from early to mid-November to early to mid-April (one could make cases for Jiminy, Windham, & Plattekill too, but they are more minor, shorter seasons and less snowmaking). Typically, Hunter is not desirable for skiing on mid-season weekends, but early or late in the season, or after a monsoon, it's often the only option (the default 'best' game in town). (IMHO, if Hunter compares to Big Bear, then Plattekill functions like Mt. Baldy).

I do not think Hunter is a mountain that would be developed today, due to multiple cliff bands. How much dynamite did its creation take? The entire front side of the mountain required trails to be blasted into the side of the hill, and almost all slopes needed to be engineered against the fall line, as it would be too steep.

There are legitimate, steep runs: Westway, Annapurna, K27, and Recer's Edge (which Vail does not seem to open as reliably as past owners). Maybe sections of Bear Mt. are similar: Geronimo, Exhibition - but Hunter's slopes are longer and can have bulletproof ice/poor skiers.

One can see the numerous rock bands scattered around the mountain below - a novelty for an East Coast mountain:

There were additional lifts proposed for Hunter West, including a trail/liftline cut in the 1970s/80s?, but more recently (and perhaps wisely), Hunter added some intermediate terrain in the Hunter North lower mountain sector. It has always been challenging for intermediate skiers off the summit.

You can see from the aerial photo below that Hunter never reaches the true summit, and there are large bowls on both sides of Hunter's front side and west side. I always thought Hunte could expand into them, cover with snowmaking, and possibly become a decent alternative to Vermont (Mt. Snow/Stratton/Okemo) or NY Adirondacks (Gore/Whiteface), given a much shorter drive, but less snowfall/warmer temps.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

A good overview of Hunter. The only thing that needs to be further underscored is how in recent years their clientele is extremely unhappy with Vail's (mis)management of the mountain, especially the snowmaking, which was likely the impetus for the long-running "F Vail" thread on @Harvey's NY Ski Forum.

I haven't skied there in many years; maybe @jasoncapecod can mention his more recent experiences.

Such a shame that they never developed those big bowls under the true summit.

 

[ChrisC]

A good overview of Hunter. The only thing that needs to be further underscored is how in recent years their clientele is extremely unhappy with Vail's (mis)management of the mountain, especially the snowmaking, which was likely the impetus for the long-running "F Vail" thread on @Harvey's NY Ski Forum.

Such a shame that they never developed those big bowls under the true summit.

I have seen comments about Vail's management practices re: snowmaking. Checked in this year, it has been almost 5+ years since any attempts were made to open Westway or Annapurna.

However, Vail must have performed a cost-benefit analysis regarding time, cost, season, and skier density on its expert trails.

Killington also experienced the same issues with its 1980s-built, wide-open, wind-exposed expert trails. It no longer makes an effort on Deveil's Fiddle (the chair has been removed) or Ovation (which is now positioned steeper next to Superstar), and has abandoned the Northeast Passage lift. But it doubled down on Superstar and Double Dipper (previous best gladed area).

Even Jay Peak got one of those mega expert runs in CanAm, but I have no idea if they maintain it anymore.

Sugarloaf did the same on its Snowfields - White Nirto - and it becomes a wind-baren ice field that kills people when they fall and slide into the woods.

 

[ChrisC]

Such a shame that they never developed those big bowls under the true summit.

Hunter Mountain proper is all protected land. There is not much one can do/develop in the Catskills or Adirondacks at elevation.

However, it would be quite the marketing claim to have VT-equivalent skiing (elevation, vertical drop, size) within 2 hours of NYC metor vs. 3.5-5 hrs for VT. Hunter's top lift-served elevation could have greater than Stowe's (its lifts do not go to the summit of Mansfield - great freeride zone).

​

 

[EMSC]

I do not think Hunter is a mountain that would be developed today, due to multiple cliff bands. How much dynamite did its creation take? The entire front side of the mountain required trails to be blasted into the side of the hill, and almost all slopes needed to be engineered against the fall line, as it would be too steep.

I always assume that everyone from back east knows that the Slutzky's who started Hunter were developers/construction guys first and were looking for something to bring people into the Catskills during the slow months of year. So they had easy access to low cost bulldozers, TNT, etc... back in the day when they chopped the runs into all that rock.

One can see the numerous rock bands scattered around the mountain below

Good and interesting views, but clearly old pics. There is no Hunter North expansion trails/lift.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

everyone from back east knows that the Slutzky's who started Hunter were developers/construction guys first

That's correct although I'd assume that it's mainly oldsters who know that factoid. OTOH, it's pretty obvious that the trails were blasted into the mountain.

Not a pretty ski area, neither the terrain nor the view from the top. I only went there a handful of times in December like this in 2007 and this in 2009 to take advantage of their snowmaking advantage.

A classic Huntah pic:

 

[EMSC]

A classic Huntah pic

If you're not skiing Hunter with snowguns blasting you in the face... Then you're doing it wrong (LOL).

What is their annual snowfall? Like 60 or 70 inches at best? Just enough to sometimes soften surfaces. I can't imagine glade skiing ever being a thing there.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

What is their annual snowfall? Like 60 or 70 inches at best?

72 allegedly!

I can't imagine glade skiing ever being a thing there.

Other than that 84-inch storm in 2010, unlikely.

 

[Tony Crocker]

72 allegedly?

Interesting. Stuart Winchester's database claims 70 for Hunter. A decade ago ZRankings claimed 125 and I saw no reason to change that. There are are a few other areas that have lowered their brochure quotes during that time.

Plattekill claims 170, which Harvey says is . Harvey says Plattekill's snowfall is similar to Belleayre, which claims 140. Windham claims 105. Why should Hunter, a higher mountain, be that much less than the other Catskill areas?

 

[jimk]

I included a couple of scenically attractive photos in this old article on Hunter Mtn.

Agree, Hunter was built/blasted on extremely rocky terrain by highway builders (Slutskys). If it got 300+ inches of snow each winter it could potentially be a huckers paradise with numerous large cliff drops. The main chairlift out of the base transits over quite a large cliff.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I included a couple of scenically attractive photos in this old article on Hunter Mtn.

A nicely-balanced article and yes, those are some of the better pix I've seen of Hunter.

Hunter is basically a giant rock pile

Well put.

we talked briefly about Vladimir Putin’s fast moving in the Crimea that was grabbing headlines at the time

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Agreed about the international clientele, including a heavy eastern European component as you note. While I could do without the Joeys in jeans and 90s Starter jackets (see below), it's refreshing to ski alongside a more diverse customer base than the suffocating 100% white situation at most places in the U.S.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7351023143961496863

 

[jasoncapecod]

Wachusett was expanded in the 1980s to become a 1,000-foot vertical drop ski area, and is considered the best of the suburban Boston ski areas (versus Nashoba, Blue Hills, Ward, etc.) It has had to overcome numerous legal and environmental hurdles to grow taller, expand snowmaking operations, cut down a tree, and/or stay relevant. I remember endless fights over a stand of old-growth forest somewhere on the property. Brief history: https://www.newenglandskihistory.com/Massachusetts/wachusett.php

Wachusett is also a giant magnet for racing. New York City would be fortunate to have something similar within 90 minutes of the city. It does in the form of Vernon Valley-Great Gorge/Mountain Creek, NJ, but I am unfamiliar with programs there. Those ski areas, combined with Action Park, were mismanaged and mostly a semi-death trap, especially Action Park. The Catskills are too far, and other suburban NY areas are really bad: Sterling Forest, Big Bich/Thunder Mt., Mt. Peter, etc. OK for learning, a park, or some racing.

Wachusett also ran an incessant radio jingle that almost anyone can imitate after a winter in Eastern Massachusetts ("Waaaa-wa-wa-chusett"). That and "Sunday River Snow". (Les Otten was brilliant in his non-stop Boston marketing, making Sunday River seem close by. Reality: Stowe or Sugarbush were the same driving distance, and no need to go to Sunday River for less snow, or its snowmaking.


However, Wachustts is not located inside the Rte. 128 (I-95) or I-495 beltways, and is 75 minutes or more away from the city with traffic. I found it much better to travel to Southern New Hampshire (90-100 minutes to Gunstock, Mt. Sunapee, and Ragged Mountain), as there was better snow, temperatures, and terrain (in terms of trails, lifts, and vertical drop). But for night skiing or a snow day when there's no work from home, Wachusetts is great!

The 5 Best Ski Resorts Near Boston, 2024/25 https://www.snowpak.com/massachusetts/closest-ski-resorts-near-boston
Mostly agree with this list.

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are significantly better in terms of size, snow quality, views, elevation, and more. Likely, almost 30-50% of winter storms might result in some rain at Wachusetts, and most of the mountain is relatively flat except for its "Summit Chair." Compared to the southern New Hampshire day mountains mentioned above and linked.

Someone on Reddit marked up the Wachusett trail map.

View attachment 47014

My daughther lives in Cambridge, she will only ski in Southern New Hampshire when day tripping..She has a Indy Pass and a uphill only pass at Pats Peak..