Andorra Tops European Average Lift Ticket Price League For Second Year (11-Mar-09)

Snow24, March 11, 2009 - An annual study of lift ticket prices

An annual study of lift ticket prices charged by more than 500 ski areas in 35 countries worldwide has reported that prices for British guests are well up this season to most international ski destinations.

The findings are published as part of the World Lift Ticket Price Report 2009, the eighth annual edition of the Report by Scottish based independent research company Snow24.  The Report compares the cost of a six-day, high-season, non-discounted ticket bought in resort in hundreds of resorts around the world including off-the-beaten-track ski destinations like Argentina, China, Iran and Romania.

The Report converts more than 20 regional currencies for comparison in US Dollars, Euros and British Pounds.  It found that Brits had to pay more to ski in Europe and north America than most other nations this season with only Australian and New Zealand currencies performing a little worse (Making those two ski destinations cheaper for Brits this summer!)

Prices were up the most of Japan, followed by the USA, Switzerland, Canada and then the Euro-zone.

Following years of having the highest lift ticket price inflation in Europe, Andorra retained its position as the most expensive country for lift tickets in the continent with a 6.8% rise in the average ticket cost in Euros to 190.50 Euros. 

For Brits the weak pound meant that prices actually rose by a much greater percentage of 28.8% to around 172 pounds for a six day pass. Coming on top of a 19% rise in cost for Brits spread over the previous two seasons, it means that Andorra’s lift ticket prices have risen by nearly half over the past three years for British buyers.