CairnGorm Mountain suffers slump in visitor numbers
CairnGorm Mountain suffered its lowest number of ski days this season for over a decade, and the number of snowsports visitors fell by almost 50 per cent on the previous year, it has been revealed.
In a season memorable for its absence of snow in March and its late return in May, CairnGorm Mountain attracted 66,463 snowsports enthusiasts during its 50th anniversary season 2011-12.
The resort budgeted to have 73,720 skiers/boarders in season 2011-12.
In the 2010-11 season 121,420 skiers/boarders visited CairnGorm
The resort opened for snowsports on December 10 and did not finish until May 26 with snowsports possible on 110 of those 169 days, the lowest number since 1997-98.
Remarkably it was not possible to ski or board at all during the whole of March, something previously unheard of.
There were 36 days in total between February 27 and April 4 when it was not possible to ski, usually one of the most lucrative periods of the season for the resort’s operators. Funicular passenger numbers however rose during that period as summer weather replaced the snow.
But snowsports fans were rewarded for their patience by the arrival of late spring snow in early April which permitted the resumption of skiing on much of the hill and in the upper bowl until almost the end of May, often in superb conditions both on the ground and overhead.
Commenting on the season, Cairngorm Mountain chief executive Ian Whitaker said: “Undoubtedly it has been a challenging season with poor weather during February half term restricting the numbers who came during what is traditionally our busiest week of the year, then the complete absence of snow during March took its toll.
“We were on the point of making arrangements to start our expanded guided walking programme a month early when the snow returned and remained throughout May, forcing us to postpone our walks! It was however a relief that our season ticket holders in particular were rewarded with some excellent snowsports in late April and May.”