Big Swiss ski resorts report ‘positive’ winter season – so far
Large ski resorts in Switzerland have managed to make up for the difficult start to the season, which was plagued by persistent warm weather. But small and low-altitude resorts continue to suffer.
This content was published on
3 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
Italiano
it
I grandi comprensori sciistici svizzeri registrano una stagione invernale “positiva”, finora
“We are having a record month for February,” Pascal Bergero, director of the lift company covering the Swiss side of the Franco-Swiss Portes du Soleil ski area, told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
Thanks to sunny weather over the past few weeks, the ski area has managed to make up for financial losses during Christmas and the first two weeks of January.
At the start of the season, many resorts suffered from huge swathes of green mountainside, persistent warm weather and slushy runs at medium and low altitudes. This was followed by large snowfalls in early January.
Ovronnaz, in canton Valais, also gives an positive interim assessment. The 20% drop in visitors over Christmas and New Year has been recovered in January and February. “If March is correct, we will be able talk about a good season,” said Gianluca Lepori director of Téléovronnaz.
The Vaud resorts of Villars, Gryon and Les Diablerets also gave a “good” assessment for the season.
“We are happy with the season so far despite a complex start. There are many people in the resorts, hotel reservations are good, we have managed to maintain quality snow and the weather is fine,” said Sergei Aschwanden, director general of Bex-Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets tourism.
Record in Graubünden
Officials in large resorts in German-speaking resorts also have smiles on their faces. In canton Graubünden in south-east Switzerland, Davos-Klosters has recorded an 18% increase in overnight stays so far this year compared to 2021/22. St Moritz also recorded a record number of overnight stays in December.
Tourism officials in central Switzerland are also upbeat. Engelberg says it has had a “very good season” so far and Andermatt talks of a “very positive” winter. Officials in the Jungfrau region in the Bernese Oberland described the “fourth best start to the season in the past ten years”.
However, smaller resorts, and those located at lower altitudes without artificial snow, have had a more difficult winter. For some the season started late due to the lack of snow; others even had to close their slopes.
At Sörenberg, in canton Lucerne, the season only began in mid-January due to the high temperatures. As a result, turnover from ski lift passes is 35% lower than last year.
The situation is even more difficult in the Jura mountains. “It’s been a horrible year,” Jean-François Léchot, president of the Jura Arc lift company, told RTN radio on Friday.
The introduction of snow cannons could be a solution, he says, but it would represent “a real challenge”. It would require not only sufficient funds, but also cold weather, and the necessary authorisations and water supply.
Léchot does not see the end of skiing in the Jura mountains in the short term, however. “As long as there is snow, there will be customers”, he says. The region is popular with families and easy to access.
More
More
Swiss ski resorts struggle with snow shortage and record temperatures
This content was published on
Huge swathes of green mountainside, persistent warm weather and slushy runs have been causing headaches for Swiss ski resorts.
Swiss centre records over 200 victims of human trafficking
This content was published on
Last year 317 people took part in a protection programme run by the Specialist Unit for Trafficking in Women and Women’s Migration (FIZ) in German-speaking Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are opening a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
Lack of smartphone sustainability in Switzerland hits environment
This content was published on
Almost half of all Swiss citizens hang on to their old smartphones, tablets and laptops, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Police clear out pro-Palestinian students protesting in Geneva
This content was published on
The police intervened early on Tuesday to dislodge pro-Palestinian students who had been occupying the University of Geneva for almost a week.
New gel developed in Zurich renders alcohol harmless
This content was published on
A newly developed gel composed of whey proteins breaks down alcohol in the body and could reduce its harmful and intoxicating effects in humans.
Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities
This content was published on
Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.
This content was published on
In many cases, China's use of AI undermines the national security of the US and its allies, according to a US government representative.
Swiss Hells Angels trial alleges rape and money laundering
This content was published on
An allegedly high-ranking member of the Hells Angels is accused of money laundering totalling millions and rape, among other serious crimes.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss ski resorts struggle with snow shortage and record temperatures
This content was published on
Huge swathes of green mountainside, persistent warm weather and slushy runs have been causing headaches for Swiss ski resorts.
This content was published on
Taking a holiday in a Swiss ski resort will cost up to 10% more this season as operators grapple with inflation and soaring energy costs.
Winter energy woes cast shadow over Swiss ski season
This content was published on
Swiss resorts are gearing up for a bumper season. But soaring power prices have resort managers scrambling for ways to save energy.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.