France Claims Success in 2024/25 Season

The body, that has 380 members, said ski resorts recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers: +5.5% compared to the previous winter.

It is +4.9% above the average of the three preceding winters.

Globally France is in second place for the highest number of ski visits – behind the USA and ahead of Austria.

“Overall, the 2024/2025 season is proving to be a good one for the French mountains – benefiting from sufficient snow conditions in most mountain ranges and strong visitor numbers during all peak seasons,” said a statement from DSF.

“This confirms the renewed interest of French and international guests in French ski resorts.”

Opening w/end in Val Thorens, Sunday 23rd November. Image © PlanetSKI

The start of the 2024/2025 season was characterized by good snowfall at all altitudes, followed by a period of fine weather that attracted many skiers during the Christmas holidays.

All mountain ranges recorded significant increases – especially those that had suffered from a lack of snow the previous year.

The positive trend continued in January, with visitor numbers increasing by 3% compared to the previous year and by 7% compared to the three previous seasons.

Even before the winter holidays, the cumulative increase was 6% compared to 2023/2024 and 13% compared to the average of recent years.

The winter holidays maintained this momentum, reaching +6% compared to 2024.

On March 7th, the national cumulative visitor count was +6% higher than the previous year and +7% higher than the average of the three previous winters.

Despite a changeable March, which – as has been typical since the start of the coronavirus pandemic – saw a decline in visitor numbers, the lead from the beginning of the season remained intact.

On April 4, shortly before the last ski resorts closed, the cumulative national visitor count was still solidly positive: +4% compared to the previous year and +4% above the average of the last three winters.

The end of the season (April 4 to May 8) went significantly better than in previous years – mainly thanks to the unusual shift in the holiday periods of British and Flemish guests from March to April.

Tignes, France. Image © PlanetSKI.

Results by region

• The 2024/25 season was a good year in most mountain regions.
• In all regions, it was better than the previous season, which was characterised by a lack of snow at mid-altitudes.
• The Massif Central, the Vosges Mountains and the Jura Mountains recorded the largest increases, but without achieving exceptional results compared to the average of recent years.

Main trends of the 2024/2025 season

• 54.8 million for the season, which is +5.5% compared to 2023/2024 and +4.9% compared to the average of the last three (post-Covid) seasons.
• The accommodations achieved occupancy rates of 71% to 83% (depending on the period), with peaks during the winter and Christmas holidays. Holiday clubs performed particularly well – thanks to their wide range of activities.

Growing international tourism:

• More and more European and non-European guests are traveling to the French mountains, contributing to a more even distribution of visitors during the season.
• The number of French tourists remains robust and constant.

The main French lift operator, Compagnie des Alpes, said sales for its Ski Areas & Outdoor Activities division rose to €594 million for the full 2024/25 financial year.

That represents increase of 7.5% compared with the previous financial year.

Ski lift business (more than 95% of the division’s sales) grew by 7.6%, thanks to an increase of approximately 6.6% in average revenue per skier-day and a 1.0% increase in the number of skier-days.

The latter reached 13.9 million units, surpassing last year’s previous record of 13.8 million skier-days.

This year, capital expenditures for Compagnie des Alpes focused primarily on the Les Arcs, Val d’Isère, and Tignes ski areas.

Related Articles:

• What a start to the season in Val Thorens
• The biggest French ski area you have probably never heard of
• PlanetSKI slows down in Val d’Arly

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