Scots ski resorts: on the slide or on the up?

SCOTLAND’S ski centres have enjoyed a couple of bumper seasons, but the industry remains in a fragile state, according to a report.

Snowsports generate an average of £30 million a year for the rural economy and directly support 634 jobs. But the sector remains vulnerable to unpredictable weather and international competition.

Despite two successful winters, the number of individual visits – or skier days – to the five Scottish winter sport centres had been falling for a decade. Over the last 25 years the average number of skier days was 325,700 a year, but in the past ten years the figure had fallen by more than a third, to 199,100.

The report, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise, notes that more people in the UK are skiing and snowboarding, but fewer of them are choosing to do so in Scotland.

The trend blamed on inconsistent weather, fewer schools taking part in the sports, more competition from cheap deals overseas and old equipment and outdated support facilities.

The report says that centres should look at creating mini-resorts at higher altitudes and improve access to higher snowfields.

The past two years have bucked the trend, with a record-breaking 2009-10 season which saw 374,789 visitors on the slopes. The 2010-11 season was not as good, but still successful, with 277,316 visitors by the end of March. But footfall did not reach the heights experienced in the 1980s and 1990s.

The report recommends greater collaborative working among the Scottish centres to develop the sector as a whole, improved marketing and promotion, a campaign to address high UK taxation and further diversification to complement ski facilities.

Each of the five centres has diversified into non-skiing activities in recent years, including sightseeing, mountain biking, climbing and assault courses, which have brought in more than 300,000 extra visitors every year.

The report says that if nothing is done to address visitor numbers, annual average number of skier days over the next ten years could decline by 20 per cent. But if developments go ahead, snowsports growth is estimated at 15 per cent and non-snowsports activities could grow by between 30 per cent and 45 per cent.

Marian Austin, chief executive of Nevis Range and spokesperson for the Association of Scottish Ski Areas, said the perception of climate change was only one factor in a complex picture, and that changing holiday habits and competition from abroad were much more relevant now than they were 15 years ago.

Chris Taylor, head of tourism with HIE, said the report painted a realistic picture of the industry.

“We know we can’t rely on favourable weather though, which is why it’s vital that the public and private sector partners work together to address the issues highlighted,” he added.