French ski resorts report excellent Christmas despite less snow than last year
Bookings are up and non-snow related activities are also on the rise
Occupancy and bookings have been up so far this ski season (a view of Val Thorens, France)
Umikem/Shutterstock
Ski resorts in France report a strong Christmas period with high occupancy rates in hotels, more visits, and longer stays overall – despite there being less snow this year than last.
“It's almost on par with last year's figures, when Christmas was one of the best Christmases, at least in terms of mountain visitor numbers, that we've seen in the last 20-30 years,” said Jean-Luc Boch, president of industry association France Montagne, to FranceInfo.
One ski resort accommodation company Pierre et Vacances reports that their occupancy rates reached 97% over the Christmas holidays, a rise compared to the same time last year.
The average length of stay also rose, while spend per stay increased by 8% year-on-year too, after the company opened a new four-star residence, said director Grégory Sion.
He added that many bookings had come from last year’s clients after December 2024 had excellent snowfall, and that these clients had spread the word to friends and family, leading to more bookings in 2025-2026.
In fact, according to the Discurv research institute’s Baromètre Montagne Hiver 2025-2026 report, which was published in November 2025*, 10% of people in France going to the mountains this year will be first-time visitors.
No snow, no problem?
Christmas 2024-2025 saw better snowfall than 2025-2026, but the lesser amount this season (so far) has not appeared to negatively affect results.
“Some resorts didn't necessarily have very good snow cover, but that didn't cause problems with bookings,” said Mr Boch. “People come here to enjoy their holidays, with or without snow.”
In fact, nearly one third of people in France who go to the mountains for winter holidays do not plan to ski, the Discurv barometer found.
For almost 30% of respondents, a winter holiday does not necessarily mean activities based on skiing or even snow. In fact, more than half (54%) are seeking “mountain benefits” and want to discover “another facet of the mountains” rather than simply practising “snow sports”.
The barometer found that “non-skiing activities [are] on the rise” and that “holidaymakers are more attentive to sustainability and environmental responsibility”.
The study found:
63% go for hiking and snowshoeing
55% go for local cuisine
43% go for wellness, spas, and thermal baths
29% go for culture and crafts
It comes as many resorts are beginning to diversify their offerings as snowfall becomes less predictable due to climate change.
Estimates suggest that by 2050 many large resorts in France will have to diversify away from winter sports towards summer activities and alternative tourist attractions in order to survive.
At the beginning of the 2024-2025 season, the biggest ski station in the Pyrenees - Grandvalira, in Andorra - was forced to delay its planned opening date due to a lack of snow.
*Study conducted among a representative sample of 1,000 people living in France, aged 18 and over.
