Fewer Italians are heading to the mountains to celebrate the holidays this year. The amount of tourists expected to spend Christmas and New Years at Italy’s ski resorts is down by 6% compared to last year.
While fun snow days are a tradition for many Italian families, the economic crisis is causing many people to stay home for the holidays. Only 5.9 million Italians will head to the slopes this year, an overall decrease of 1.5%. 45% of respondents said that they will be staying home for economic reasons.
With an average cost of 115-130 Euro per day for hotels and ski passes, winter holidays are fast becoming a privilege that few can afford during the Christmas season.
Winter sports enthusiasts who are willing to shell out for a day on the slopes are in for a treat. Pristine runs and family relaxation are a perfect way to welcome 2011 for the lucky few who are still flocking to Italy’s top mountain resorts, including Alpine towns like Moena, Madonna di Campiglio and Livigno.