State skier visits up slightly over last year

By Dave Buchanan
Friday, June 11, 2010

Colorado’s ski resorts hosted an estimated 11.8 million skiers and snowboarders this past winter, an increase of approximately .8 percent compared to last season, according to Colorado Ski Country USA.
That includes the 22 CSCUSA member resorts and Vail Resorts Inc.‘s four Colorado ski areas, which are not members of the ski-industry trade group.
CSCUSA president and CEO Melanie Mills says visits from international customers were up 6.5 percent while visits from Denver and other Front Range areas were down from record levels last season. She didn’t release exact numbers.
“We’re pleased visitation is up even if only by a nose,” MIlls said. “We held our own in attracting the destination skier, and even with the challenges the travel industry still faces, we found that several indicators are moving in the right direction.”
A slow rebound in leisure travel and spending and a weak mid-season snowpack were the leading causes of the small skier increase, Mills said.