Ski tourism worldwide - statistics & facts

Keen skiers are spoilt for choice, with ski resorts on every continent except Antarctica. From the Alps in Europe to the Rocky Mountains in North America, skiing is a pastime enjoyed by many nationalities. Mountains are typically a main feature of ski destinations, yet skiing was not the top mountain tourism activity worldwide in 2022. The leading activity was walking and hiking, perhaps a more accessible hobby for some than skiing, which can often be physically demanding and expensive. With equipment rentals, ski passes, and accommodation costs, it all starts to add up. For example, as of October 2023, the most budget-friendly ski destination in Italy, Mottarone, cost an average of 69 euros a day for accommodation and a ski pass. Meanwhile, the most expensive ski destination in Italy cost a whopping 258 euros a day on average.

What is the most popular ski destination in the world?

The Alps were the most popular ski destination in the world by share of global skier visits. Known as the “Big Four”, the most popular ski countries in the Alps are Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and France. In 2022, winter sports tourism in Austria contributed significantly to the economy, with sales of 12.5 billion euros and a share of approximately 6.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Meanwhile, there were around 17.4 million overnight stays at hotels and spas in Switzerland during the 2022/23 winter season.

The European country that was home to the highest share of skiers, Liechtenstein, was not one of the “Big Four”, however it is located between two of them. Situated between Austria and Switzerland, 36 percent of the country’s population of around 39 thousand said they participated in skiing in 2022.

How big is the ski market in North America?

While Europeans have shown their passion for hitting the slopes, North Americans are not far behind in their enthusiasm. Both the United States and Canada are home to world-famous skiing resorts, including the likes of Aspen, Colorado (U.S.) and Whistler, British Columbia (Canada). That being said, the Canadian resort with the most Google searches in the 2021/22 ski season was Lake Louise, located in tourist hotspot Banff National Park. In 2022, the market size of the ski and snowboard resorts industry in the U.S. was approximately 4.4 billion U.S. dollars. Comparatively, the market size of the ski and snowboard resorts industry in Canada reached 1.3 billion dollars. Skiing is popular among residents in both countries, with millions participating in the sport. However, the number of skiers and snow boarders in the U.S. surpassed the number of skiers in Canada by a large margin.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 7, 2023

Key insights

Global region with the highest share of skier visits
The Alps
Region with the highest share of skiers worldwide
Western Europe
European country with the highest number of skiing participants
Germany
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Most expensive ski destinations in Europe as of October 2023 (in euros)

Destinations

Most expensive ski destinations in Europe 2023

Most budget-friendly ski destinations in Europe as of October 2023 (in euros)

Destinations

Cheapest ski destinations in Europe 2023

Sales of skis, snowboards and skiing equipment worldwide from 2019/20 to 2021/22, with a forecast until 2022/23 (in million units)

Apparel & Shoes

Sales of skis, snowboards and skiing equipment worldwide 2019-2022

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