The National Observatory of Mountain Resorts ANMSM – Atout France confirms satisfactory results for the entire winter season. However, the outlook for the Spring holidays remains very weak.
The change in the school calendar, which will be presented to the Higher Council of Education on April 10, could reverse this trend regarding the Spring holidays as early as next year.
The perception of the level of tourist activity recorded during the 2014-2015 winter season is quite satisfactory, often comparable to the previous season, with the exception of some resorts in the Southern Alps that noted a decline. The occupancy rates for the 2014-2015 winter season range between 64% and 72% for all accommodations.
“The responsiveness of the resorts to the lack of snow at the beginning of the season and their investments have proven successful for this winter 2014-2015, particularly the artificial snowmaking equipment. The results, despite weather uncertainties, are generally satisfactory for all mountain ranges,” says Charles-Ange Ginésy, President of the National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts.
“Given these very weak figures for the upcoming period, we can only commend the compromise reached by the Government to help the mountain stakeholders and seasonal teams out of this negative Spring spiral. If 2015 will be poor for Spring vacations, it is quite possible that 2016 will see a new dynamic emerge. The change in the school calendar is an opportunity to safeguard employment in our resorts,” explains Charles-Ange Ginésy.
Nevertheless, attendance for this period will depend on the quality of the snow cover, and last-minute bookings could also be recorded thanks to the offers launched during the “Spring of Skiing” operation, promoted by France Montagnes.
