Cableways Impact Assessment Study - Final Report - saferail.nl

IA Study Concerning the Revision of the Cableways Directive
the number of ski resorts in operation in the USA has declined steadily from 735 in
1982 to 486 in 2011, based on data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA,
2012) which is shown in Figure 2.2. Canada has shown only a slight increase in skier
days in the year 2010/11.
Figure 2.2: Number of ski resorts in operation in the USA
China
The Chinese ski industry has seen significant growth in the past decade; in 1996 there
were approximately 10,000 skiers and only nine small skiable hills in China.
However, in 2010, this number had grown to an estimated five million skiers and 186
possible ski destinations (Globe and Mail, 2011). The majority of the five million
skiers in China are not dedicated skiers but one time visitors to the slopes; however in
countries with successful ski industries, ski resorts are visited (repeatedly) by
domestic skiers. Within China, resorts on a large scale are being built and developed
such as the Secret Garden project in Hebei province which will be opened in stages
and will ultimately have 82 ski runs and will have chairlifts and gondolas with the
capacity to transport 18,000 guests a day and 2,700 hotel rooms (China Daily, 2011).
Developments on such a large scale no longer occur in the traditional markets of
Western Europe and North America.
It is important to note that despite significant investment, the ski industry in China has
not yet properly taken off but has experienced steady growth. It is projected that the
Chinese ski industry will grow in the coming five years, which is expected to bring
opportunities for cableways manufacturers (China Daily, 2011).
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