A Season of Growth for Quebec Ski Resorts

Resorts recorded a total of 6.317 million skier-days, a 5% increase compared to last year. This boost in attendance allowed the industry to reach $263.7 million in ticket revenues, marking a historic peak for Quebec resorts.

Season pass sales also progressed significantly, showing an 11% increase compared to last year and totaling 334,580 passholders. For their part, daily ticket sales rose by 7%. Other winter revenues recorded the strongest growth among all categories with an 18% increase, driven in particular by the strong performance of ski schools, whose revenues grew by 13% to reach $35 million.

Certain regions experienced marked increases in attendance, including Outaouais, which posted a 20% growth (564,000 skier-days), and slightly below it, Mauricie, up by 19% (311,000 skier-days).

In total, the three main regions (Laurentides, Eastern Townships, Quebec City/Charlevoix) generated 77% of total attendance, experiencing respective visitor growth rates of 2%, 8%, and 2%.

The early start to the season observed at several resorts – thanks to significant snowfall and investments made in snowmaking – made it possible to offer optimal skiing conditions throughout a large portion of the winter. The enthusiasm observed during the holiday period was evident across Quebec, and several resorts enjoyed an excellent start to the season. Despite episodes of extreme cold in January and February, resorts successfully maintained a high-quality offering. The school spring break period was also favorable in several regions.

However, spring skiing was cut short in some areas due to heavy precipitation at the end of the season.

Although climate change represents a major challenge for the future of the industry, ski resorts are continuing their investments to increase their adaptive capacity and maintain a high-quality experience for skiers. In this context, investments in snowmaking, infrastructure modernization, and activity diversification are becoming more strategic than ever to ensure the long-term viability of the resorts and regional tourism economies.

"The preliminary results show that Quebecers continue to show up and that resorts were able to offer a high-quality experience despite the challenges facing the industry. Quebecers want to stay active in the winter, and ski resorts are thrilled to see that they largely choose the snow sports offered on the ski mountains to play outside," emphasizes Yves Juneau, President and CEO of the ASSQ.

The ASSQ has been working for more than 40 years to represent and support Quebec ski resorts in developing best business practices. As a non-profit organization, the ASSQ promotes snow sports, improves the customer experience, and supports resort performance to guarantee their sustainability. Thanks to initiatives like the Ski Passe-Partout which funds the Association's activities, more than 40,000 young people are introduced to skiing and snowboarding for free each year, promoting the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

In the context of climate change, the ASSQ is expanding its mission by supporting the industry and the public through the evolution of resorts and the offering of mountain activities. It is committed to fostering a sustainable environment for the sport and supporting its members in adapting to the new realities of the ski industry.