European Ski Resorts are heading for a busy Christmas as
more skiers try to fit on the few slopes that are open.
The current lack of snow in the Alps
has been inconvenient, but not a major problem as the few
slopes open have been quiet with few skiers on the mountain.
However, with strong Christmas and
New Year bookings from this Saturday (23/12) many resorts
are concerned about the impact of so many skiers packed
into such a small area.
Close to 100% occupancy...
The snow problem has been exacerbated
by an increase in bookings for the festive season following
last year's disappointing Millennium bookings.
French accommodation agency Maeva,
represented in 32 resorts, is '100% full at Christmas',
according to their chairman, Jean-Marc Janaillac. Pierre
and Vacances, who have operations in 21 resorts also claim
near 100% occupancy for Christmas, compared to 75% in 1999.
Jacques Guillot, spokesman for Ski
France, has advised that New Year's week is also showing
occupancy close to 100%, plus an increase through January,
a figure backed-up by Mme Catlin from the Office du Tourisme
at Meribel.
...with as little as 50% of the area
open!
The problem will come trying to fit
everyone on to the mountain. Last week in the Three Valleys
a number of pistes with good snow such as Mont Vallon in
Meribel and Chanrossa in Courchevel were held back in reserve
to cover for the holiday period.
Even with these areas back in the
frame, the pistes below the mid-stations on the Meribel
side and down to Le Praz on the Courchevel side are already
impassable for anyone with respect for their skis/board.
This will leave more skiers than ever on a smaller section
of the mountain.
Bear in mind that this is in collection
of purpose-built resorts. Many resorts in Austria, Italy
and lower in France have no lifts or pistes open and holidaymakers
will have to travel to their nearest open area - filling
the pistes even more...
A crowded Christmas?
We are not trying to be harbingers
of doom - no one wants snow more than Natives.
The fact is though that even in an
area with as many runs and as many lifts as the Three Valleys,
unless more snow falls it's going to be a crowded Christmas.
