The ski resorts market - Italy (2024)

1.2 The global market

The mountain and ski resort market is estimated at $**.* billion in **** and is expected to reach $**.* billion by ****, with a CAGR of **.*% from **** to ****. This represents a ***% increase in ten years. The increase in international tourism, along with investment in infrastructure, is making these destinations more accessible and attractive. Technological innovations are helping ski resorts secure longer seasons, thus increasing their popularity. In addition, the growing popularity of winter sports and outdoor activities is contributing significantly to this expansion. Global Market Value of Ski and Mountain Resorts Italy, ****-****, in US$ billion FutureMarketInsights

Worldwide, there are **,*** km of slopes: ski resorts are served by **,*** lifts . The value of the global cable car and ropeway market shows steady growth from **** to ****. In ****, the market was worth $* billion, while in **** it will reach $*.** billion. This represents a **.* percent increase in eight years. Global Market Value of Cable Cars and Ropeways World, ****-****, in US$ billion ResearchAndMarkets

In ****, the global ski market reached a value of more than US$*.** billion. it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.* percent from **** to ****, with an estimated value of $*.** billion by ****. This value includes: Forecast by product, such as skis and poles, ski ...

1.3 The domestic market

To visualize the value of the Italian market, consider data for Ateco Code **.** (***). There is a significant decline from **** to **** of **.* percent, following a period of revenue value growth from **** to **** of **.* percent. In **** the value is *.* billion, we can then see a rise up to *.** bilion in ****.

Value of turnover enterprises active in "other land passenger transport nca," Ateco Code **.** Italy, ****-****, in billion euros (***) Istat

1.4 Increases in temperatures at Italian ski resorts

In a detailed analysis involving *** municipalities located between the mountain ranges of the Alps and Apennines in Italy, a worrying picture emerged regarding rising temperatures. This phenomenon, which reflects the urgent global climate crisis, shows significant variations in intensity depending on the specific location. Among the municipalities analyzed, those with the most dramatic increases are mainly located in the Alpine regions. In particular, the municipalities of Aprica and Teglio (***) experienced an alarming increase of *.* degrees. The situation in Chiomonte, in the province of Turin, offers a slightly less severe contrast: here, the temperature increase was relatively smaller, stopping at *.* degrees.[***]

Temperature increases at ski resorts Italy, ****, number of resorts Legambiente

1.5 The plants in Italy

Decommissioned, temporarily closed, and partially closed ski facilities represent different phases of inactivity in ski areas. Decommissioned facilities are ski resorts that have been completely abandoned and are no longer in operation, often leaving behind dilapidated facilities. Temporarily closed facilities, on the other hand, are ski areas that have stopped operations for a limited period, often due to seasonal or maintenance factors. Finally, partially closed facilities are ski resorts that operate only in certain areas or with limitations in available activities, sometimes due to weather conditions or logistical problems.

Condition of lifts in Italy Italy, ****/****, number of units Legambiente

Decommissioned facilities

Region Location Description Aosta Valley Challand-Saint Anselme (***) The plant at *** m a.s.l. operated for a very short time Lombardy Gandino (***) Loc. Monte Farno Poles and cables remain of the former chairlift; the seats are no longer there Trentino Alto Adige Canazei (***) Historic basket lift from Passo Fedaia to Pian dei Fiacconi, closed in **** Friuli-Venezia Giulia Sella Nevea, Chiusaforte (***) Slalom slope closed due to an avalanche and never reopened or dismantled Veneto Cortina d'Ampezzo (***) Loc. Pocol Cable car and ski lift, traces of the lifts and starting station remain Emilia Romagna Ligonchio, Ventasso (***) Remains of ski lift still visible ...

2.1 Demand characteristics

In the ****-**** winter season, the number of snow sportsmen reached *.** million, marking a * percent growth from *.** million in the ****-**** season. This increase comes despite the significant impacts of the COVID-** pandemic on previous ski seasons. During the peak of the pandemic, the ski industry faced significant challenges, including early lift closures and restrictions on openings. These challenges led to the loss of ski operators and hit middle-class ski tourists hard.[***] Reason why, in the chart below, there is no data for the ****/**** season, which was partially disrupted by regulations designed to help contain the virus.

Snow sports numbers Italy, ****-****, millions Ski Magazine

2.2 Factors influencing demand

For the ****-** season, Skipass Panorama estimated *,***,*** participants in snow sports, with a specific increase for slope skiing. However, the increase in the number of practitioners is balanced by the reduction in days spent on the mountain per individual. Despite the increase in practitioners, turnover is expected to decline, not only due to the lack of snow. In parallel, there is a growth in "no-crowds" activities, such as hiking, winter trekking, and other wilderness experiences, which are less quantifiable but increasing according to observations by environmental practitioners and facilitators.

Alpine skiing was confirmed as the favorite winter sport, with a **.*% predominance among those participating. It was followed by snowboarding, which attracted **.*% of fans, demonstrating a solid presence in the winter sports scene. Cross-country skiing maintained a loyal following, accounting for *.*% of practitioners, while freestyle captured *.*% of sportsmen. Interest in ski mountaineering was smaller, but still significant, with *.*% of enthusiasts. In addition, snowshoeing surprised with a remarkable **.*% participation.

Snow disciplines (***) Italy, ****-****, % Legambiente

2.3 Geographical distribution of ski rental in Italy

The geographic distribution of ski equipment rental in Italy, based on **** data, provides an interesting overview of both the popularity of skiing in different regions and the intensity of use of rental services. Trentino-Alto Adige emerges as the leading region with **.* percent of the market, followed by Trentino with **.* percent and Lombardy with **.* percent. Piedmont, with **.* percent, and Valle d'Aosta, with * percent, further underscore the attractiveness of the Western Alps for skiers. Also interesting is the figure for Veneto, which holds *.* percent of the rental market. The remaining **.* percent of the market is distributed in other Italian regions, including Abruzzo, Emilia, Tuscany, Lazio, Friuli, Calabria, Marche, Sicily, Molise, Campania, Sardinia, Liguria and Basilicata. This more fragmented distribution reflects the presence of smaller ski areas.

Geographic distribution of ski rental in Italy Italy, ****, % Bolzano Fair

3.1 Market structure and dynamics

To view the overview of the market structure and dynamics, we analyze Ateco code **.**.**, which includes the operation of funiculars, ski lifts and chairlifts (***). Analyzing the active enterprises in the sector, there was a slight decrease from **** of *.** percent. **** was the year in which activity decreased the most compared to the first year taken into analysis, only to grow back by *.*% in ****.

Active enterprises (***) Italy, ****-****, in thousands of units Istat

Regarding the legal form of active enterprises in the sector, it can be seen that the majority, amounting to **.* percent, are Limited Liability Companies while **.** percent present the legal form of Individual Entrepreneur, Freelancer and Self-employed. This is followed by General Partnerships (***).

Legal form of active enterprises (***) Italy, ****, % Istat From **** to ****, there is a gradual reduction in the number of employees in the sector, amounting to **.*%. Number of employees of active enterprises (***) Italy, ****-****, in thousands (***) Istat

3.2 Value Chain

The following is an overview regarding the value chain in the analyzed market, focusing on the different key stages:

design and construction: includes the planning and implementation of the ski lifts and necessary infrastructure; maintenance and operations: this phase covers the regular maintenance of lifts and slopes to ensure safety and efficiency; marketing and sales: marketing strategies and sales of tickets, vacation packages and related services; customer services: includes services such as ski schools, equipment rental, catering and accommodation; safety and rescue: implementation of safety measures, slope rescue and emergency management.

3.3 Geographical distribution of ski areas

Italy has *** ski areas with *,*** kilometers of slopes served by just over *,*** lifts, according to Skyresort.it. Italy's offerings in Europe are measured against those of neighboring France, which according to Skiresort. It's findings offers **,*** kilometers of slopes spread across *** ski resorts where *,*** lifts are active.[***]

3.4 Artificial snow: a relevant segment of the Italian landscape

The increasing reliance on artificial snow elevation in the ski industry is a worrying trend, particularly evident in Italy, where this phenomenon occurs with greater intensity than in other European countries. Some experts argue that this practice is an effective solution for adapting to climate change; however, this perspective does not consider the risk that, as temperatures rise above certain thresholds, artificial elevation becomes impractical, except in limited areas of high altitude. In such settings, the already high costs associated with snow production and skiing would experience significant increases, making alpine skiing accessible only to a small elite, in a return to an elitist reality of the past. This increasing dependence has generated a vicious cycle, in which continued investment in new technologies and expansion of snow areas is required to remain competitive. As a result, the system has become highly rigid, making changes in direction arduous. These choices place significant burdens on the public administration, which is engaged in the implementation of snowmaking systems. These operations involve considerable consumption of water, energy and soil in territories of high environmental value. Of particular concern is the use of water to fill reservoirs, to the detriment of mountain water resources, which are ...

3.5 Main actors

The following are the main enterprises in the industry:

Also of note are the facilities of the famous resorts of Courmayour and Cortina, which occupy lower positions in the ranking. The former, operated by Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie S.p.a., recorded revenues of €**,***,*** in ****, the latest year for which data are available. In contrast, Cortina's lifts are operated by different companies: the Ista S.p.a., with a turnover of €**,***,*** in ****; the Faloria S.p.a, with a turnover of €*,***,*** in ****; Impianti Averau S.r.l., with a turnover of €*,***,*** in ****; and Lagazuoi S.p.a., with a turnover of €*,***,*** in ****.

4.1 Type of Offering

In Italy, ski passes are tickets or passes that provide access to the lifts at a ski resort. There are different types of ski passes, each designed to meet the specific needs of skiers and snowboarders.

Single-Day Lift Pass: This type of lift pass is valid for a single day and allows unlimited access to the lifts at the ski resort for that day; Multiple Day Ski Pass: this ski pass is valid for multiple consecutive days. it is ideal for those planning a longer stay at a ski resort. Seasonal Lift Pass: This lift pass allows access to the lifts for the entire ski season. it is a popular choice for ski and snowboard enthusiasts who regularly attend a particular ski resort. Family lift pass: some ski resorts offer lift passes at reduced rates for families. These may include discounts for children or special family packages. Beginner lift passes: this type of lift pass is often limited to certain areas of the ski resort, usually those designated for beginners. Group Lift Passes: for groups of skiers or snowboarders, some resorts offer lift passes at reduced rates. Evening/Night Passes: for those who want to ski or snowboard in the evening ...

4.2 Ski pass prices

Ski pass prices vary depending on several factors, such as date, age, and number of days, and can be purchased online or at resort checkouts. For more details and up-to-date rates, it is recommended to consult ski resort websites or online booking platforms directly. Below is an overview of the pricing (***) of ski passes by ski resort.

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4.3 Technological revolution in Val Thorens: drones improve ski safety and efficiency

Val Thorens, an integral part of the majestic * Vallées ski area in the French Alps, stands out as the highest ski resort in Europe. With its *** km of slopes, it offers a wide range of serpentine runs and immaculate slopes. This prestigious destiny, known for its vast and varied ski terrain, has deservedly received recognition as the world's best ski resort seven times in the past eight years, testifying to its excellence and uniqueness in international skiing.

The importance of drones

The Val Thorens Drone Cell plays a crucial role in supporting the Ski Patrol in maintaining safety in ski areas. Traditionally, patrols had to manually inspect each section of the slopes, a process that was time-consuming and could result in the need for repeated inspections. The integration of drones into their equipment allows for effective pre-inspection of slopes, identifying potential hazards with greater accuracy. This makes the work of patrols more efficient and safer, especially in exploring dangerous off-piste areas, where drones take on a key role in detecting avalanche hazards. At first glance, it is believed that Ski Patrol's main duties are search and rescue (***). However, their responsibilities are actually as broad as the mountains they patrol. Some ...

5.1 Rules and regulations

The safety of lifts

Italian regulations on the safety of chairlifts and cableways have been updated, aiming to ensure maximum safety for users of these facilities.

Managerial Decree of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (***) No. *** of May **, ****: This decree introduced specific models for operation and maintenance regulations for cableways used for public transportation of people; among the different types of cableways covered by these regulations are temporary-connected monocable ropeways, bicable or funicular ropeways, ski lifts, and chairlifts with permanent attachments. These regulations detail such aspects as general facility management provisions, personnel duties and regulations, operating procedures, provisions for travelers, facility documents, in-service inspections, periodic inspections, facility specifics, and evacuation plans. Directive ***/*/EC: rules concerning the determination of the technical life of installations and the requirements to ensure that, at set deadlines, the safety conditions required by the current technical regulations remain in place

Another important aspect is the adaptation of Italian regulations to the European directives. Before the adoption of the European directive, there were significant differences between national regulations, which affected the competitiveness of ropeway manufacturers and could create potential safety risks for passengers. With the adoption of EU regulations, a uniform level of safety was ensured throughout the ...

6.1 Segmentation

• Funivie Madonna di Campiglio
• Funivie Folgarida Marilleva
• Cervinio
• 3 Zinnen
• Magellim Groupe
• Società Incremento Turistico Canazei
• Funivia Plan De Corones
• Carosello 3000