The ski season brings new records – this time for ticket prices. The highest price will have to be deducted in Kranjska Gora, where a daily ticket costs 47 euros. How are prices moving elsewhere and why is skiing becoming more and more difficult to access?
The increase in ski pass prices this year is not a surprise. Inflation, more expensive energy products and higher labor costs are the main reasons why skiers will pay more this year. Kranjska Gora, which is considered one of the most popular ski resorts, has increased the price of a one-day ticket for adults to 47 euros, which is the highest price in Slovenia. The price for one-day skiing in Vogla is 44 euros, in Rogla and Mariborski Pohorje 45 euros, while in Krvavec the price is 43 euros. A visit of a family of four to the ski resort for one day thus costs between 140 and 150 euros, and this amount does not include the costs of food, transport or equipment rental. Compared to last season, when prices were slightly lower, skiing is becoming more and more a luxury activity, accessible only to the most persistent or wealthy snow lovers.
Why is skiing becoming unattainable for many?
Skiing, which was once a popular and accessible recreation, is increasingly becoming an elite sport. Due to the high prices, families with children often decide not to use winter sports. Schools are also facing difficulties in organizing winter schools in nature, as the costs for parents are getting higher and higher. At one of the elementary schools in Primorska, a winter school in nature will cost more than 500 euros, which only includes basic costs. In addition to high ticket prices, there are additional costs such as ski equipment rental, food and transportation. Renting a set of skis, ski boots and poles at major ski resorts costs between 25 and 50 euros per day for adults. For children, the prices are slightly lower, but they still represent a big chunk of the family budget. With all this, the question arises as to whether skiing will even be able to maintain its status as a national sport, as it is becoming financially unsustainable for the average family.
Igor Mušič
Skiing, which was once a popular and accessible recreation, is increasingly becoming an elite sport.
What do Slovenian ski resorts offer?
Despite the higher prices, some ski resorts are trying to attract skiers with additional offers. For example, on Rogla, the snowmaking system has been updated, which enables faster preparation of tracks, while on Velika planina, this year’s novelty is a six-seater and a children’s ski slope. In Mariborsko Pohorje, the children’s training ground Bellevue was renovated and new artificial snow options were added. Night skiing remains an important segment of the offer at several ski resorts, such as Rogla, Mariborsko Pohorje and Kope. This is especially popular with domestic visitors who want a shorter but still unforgettable skiing experience. Prices for night skiing are around 27 euros, which is a more affordable alternative to day tickets. Ski equipment rental also remains available, but prices vary between 25 and 50 euros for adults and between 20 and 40 euros for children, depending on the quality and type of equipment.
Accommodation costs – an additional hit for families
Accommodation prices are also an important expense that should not be neglected when skiing. The prices of apartments and hotel rooms vary greatly depending on the location, quality and date of reservation. Our research on Booking.com showed that the prices for renting an apartment or a hotel room for a family of four in Kranjska Gora between February 3 and 9 (outside of school holidays) range between 900 and 1,300 euros for six nights. Luxury accommodations can also exceed 2,000 euros. Prices are slightly lower in Mariborsko Pohorje. The same family would pay between 800 and 1100 euros for six nights in the same period. The additional cost of accommodation thus increases the total cost of a skiing vacation, which for many represents an insurmountable obstacle. Given these data, it is clear that the entire ski vacation for the average family quickly approaches the cost of several thousand euros, which deters many from winter pleasures.
Points of interest
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Comparison with abroad: Where is it more expensive
Skiing abroad is more expensive, but often offers better infrastructure and longer runs. In popular Austrian ski resorts such as Nassfeld, the daily ticket price is 67 euros, while in the Dolomites it is around 79 euros. Despite this, many Slovenians still prefer to visit Austria or Italy, as they often get more for their money there. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also becoming an increasingly popular destination. On Jahorina, the price of a day ticket is around 30 euros, which is a more affordable alternative. In addition, foreign ski resorts often have better conditions for skiing due to higher altitudes and more stable weather, which additionally attracts many Slovenian skiers.
How will the weather affect the season?
Forecasts for this winter are still uncertain, but everyone wants to avoid a repeat of last year’s season, which was the worst in 20 years due to high temperatures. There will be no skiing on Kanin and Stari vrh this year, as they are facing financial and infrastructure problems. On the other hand, ski resorts such as Vogel, Rogla and Krvavec are investing in additional snowmaking systems to mitigate the impact of unreliable weather. Ski centers are thus forced to look for solutions to better adapt to climate change, which often means additional costs borne by the end users.
Accommodation prices are also an important expense that should not be neglected when skiing.
The future of Slovenian skiing
The high prices of ski tickets and the costs of renting equipment and additional services have clearly shown that skiing in Slovenia is becoming a sport that can be afforded mainly by wealthier individuals and families. The generations of children who learn about skiing in nature at school are decreasing, as parents are unable to finance this activity due to the high costs. The Slovenian tourist organization is working to promote ski resorts in foreign markets, but domestic users are the ones who are most affected by the high price increase. In the future, ski centers will have to find solutions to keep skiing accessible to the wider population, otherwise they will face a further decline in visits. One option would be to introduce subsidies for families or special discounts for young people, which could once again attract a larger share of domestic visitors.
Will skiing be only for the elite?
Ski centers are trying to attract visitors with infrastructure improvements and additional offers, but high prices are increasingly limiting the accessibility of this sport. For many families and schools, skiing will be too expensive a sport this year, which means that even more children will say goodbye to their first turns on the snow. The skiing sport in Slovenia is thus increasingly moving away from the once accessible national sport. At the same time, the question arises whether the future of Slovenian skiing will still be based on mass participation, or whether it will become the privilege of a few.
Source: svet24.si
