The Christmas and New Year period has just passed and the mountain tourism company SkiStar reached an occupancy rate of 97 % and with over 475,000 ski days*, a historic record was set for the period. Sälen had the highest occupancy rate, closely followed by Trysil, Hemsedal, Åre and Vemdalen. Despite challenging economic times, especially for families with children, the company is looking forward to 2024 with optimism and offers smart, wallet-friendly solutions to make mountain holidays affordable.
– The core of our business is to get people moving and contribute to people's well-being. The fact that more guests than ever skied with us during their holidays is proof of how popular and important active holidays are. Sälen and Vemdalen had the most guests on the ski slopes on New Year's Eve, while Åre had the most on December 30. Overall, this shows a strong demand for memorable mountain experiences, says Stefan Sjöstrand, CEO of SkiStar.
During the Christmas and New Year period, all of SkiStar's destinations have been well-visited. For occupancy per destination, see below. A total of 4,637,216 ski days were taken and from 24 Dec. to 31 Dec., a record 475,283** ski days* were recorded according to the company's Axess entry system.
– We are happy that so many people chose to spend their leave with us during the Christmas and New Year period, says Stefan Sjöstrand, CEO at SkiStar. We are aware that 2024 will be a financially challenging year for many, and know that there are ways to make mountain vacations affordable without compromising on the quality of the experience.
Five tips to help families plan an affordable mountain vacation:
- Stay a short distance from the ski slopes and use the ski bus that is uniquely included in the SkiStars SkiPass.
- Make use of heated cabins near the ski slopes: bring a packed lunch for lunch and coffee and cook dinner in the cabin after a day on the ski slopes.
- Share holiday accommodation with family and friends! Many accommodation is for 8-10 people, which is good for sharing for two families, for example.
- If possible – Go between school holidays! Lower demand which makes prices more affordable and better room for manoeuvre on the slopes.
- Last but not least - Be sure to book in advance, as not only will the mountain trip be cheaper, but the family will have something to look forward to.
Occupancy of accommodation in percentage according to SkiStar's booking system from Dec. 24, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024:
Sälen 99 % – Current snow depth: 92 cm
Trysil 98 % – Current snow depth: 98 cm
Hemsedal 97 % – Current snow depth: 60 cm
Åre 96 % – Current snow depth: 74 cm
Vemdalen 94 % – Current snow depth: 82 cm
*ski days, i.e. a person who has skied for one day.
**children up to 6 years old who travel free are not included.
According to the press release.
