86% of Dedicated Skiers Still Intend To Ski This Year

The results of a survey by The Ski Club of Great Britain carried out at the end of September has found that 86% of skiers still intend to go skiing this season with a quarter having already booked their holiday.

The survey was a follow up to a larger survey at the end of lockdown in June which had found 96% of skiers planned to hit the slopes this winter at that point – so it appears 10% fewer remain optimistic.

It's also worth taking into account that many of the 2,000 people who took the trouble to respond to the surveys are older, more dedicated skiers in southern England.

"Despite this positive intention by most skiers, in reality only 29% of skiers are confident they will be able to ski at all this season. This is mainly due to the latest government restrictions and travel advice. 79% of respondents said that the government's travel corridor/quarantine policy isn't fit for purpose," a Ski Club statement on the results explains.

Over half (57%) want to book within a month of travel (vs the 10% recorded having booked within a month of travelling last season). This indicated a huge rise in late booking intentions for the upcoming season.

According to the June survey, 86% of skiers travelled by plane last season. The latest survey shows that number will most likely drop with only 59% planning to fly. Other modes of transport showed 27% plan to drive using the Eurotunnel (being only 7% last season) and 8% by ferry (only 3% last season).

There were modest changes in terms of accommodation preferences with slightly more planning to self-cater and slightly fewer to stay in hotels or chalets, but it was only a few percentage points and there was no sign in the results of a big switch to self-catering apartments.

The numbers planning to travel independently versus with a tour operator were also almost the same as last winter.

The Ski Club plan to conduct another quick follow up survey towards the beginning of the winter season.

If the tests on arrival are as published for Italy, then I can see that number coming down quite a bit.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/coronavirus-italy-travel-advice-uk-covid-test-cases-quarantine-airport-b913744.html Makes life complicated

Wanting to and 'able to' are two very different things with the goal posts moving as they seem to be.
Best plan so far is to drive...but the game changer is border entry protocols.

I'd put my chances of going at 50-50 atm.

We have tentatively booked our usual campsite for next Easter in L2A but have taken out the cancellation insurance this time. Fingers x

I wonder what percentage are confident of being able to go are now?
Compulsory tests at border might mean you cant proceed with your holiday...so who is going to pay for that 'privilege'
Health passports will no doubt add extra cost ..

Hopefully we'll all have been vaccinated in good time for next season.

Sonofapreacher wrote:I wonder what percentage are confident of being able to go are now?

It is very hard to know and changes daily as the virus concerns rise (at present) and fall (hopefully). There have been various surveys saying that most die-hard skiers will, on the whole, try to have a ski holiday whatever, but the surveys were earlier in the autumn before the 'second wave'. J2Ski is sent a weekly list of deals by Crystal but they've not been arriving for a few weeks and the company has said it won't offer ski holidays to anywhere where you have to self-isolate on arrival/return so that currently rules out almost everywhere they operate to. Other tour ops are largely silent at the moment too when we're usually deluged with deals and offers. Smaller operator (mostly schools and groups) Interski say they're cancelling all 20-21 trips and now focussed on 21-22. So not looking great at the moment but equally people can still ski if they're determined and prepared to self isolate/ The latter half of the season is still 4-6 months away so we probably ought to keep hoping!