Skier Visits Down 5.5% for 2008-09 Season

According to a preliminary study by the National Ski Areas Association, total U.S. skier visits came to 57.1 million for the 2008-2009 season, a decline of 5.5% from the previous record year of 2007-2008. Despite a challenging economy, the industry still beat its 10 year average by nearly a half-million visits. The organization says final numbers will be available sometime in July.

Resort owners cited good natural snowfall and the idea of the "staycation" as positive factors that contributed to their success this past season. While overnight visits were not as strong as they have been in years past, skiers and snowboarders still hit the slopes in droves. The Northeast, Southeast, and Rocky Mountain regions of the country all saw growth over their 10 year averages; only the Midwest and Pacific Northwest saw slight declines.

There is no doubt that bountiful snowfall helped drive people to the slopes last season. The question now is, all things being equal, how much will the economy effect industry numbers next season? What do you think? Will the economy have a more pronounced effect on resort revenues next season? Let us know by dropping a comment below!