Skiing in Switzerland – Dynamic models and higher prices in the Swiss ski areas – News


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Skiing is becoming more expensive in Switzerland and Austria. Dynamic pricing models help ski areas in particular.

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“Electricity, oil, staff – everything has become more expensive,” says Reto Wyss, the marketing manager of the Arosa Lenzerheide ski area. Previously, the ski area had refrained from raising prices for three years, but now there is no other option.

Prices are also rising in the Zermatt-Matterhorn region, confirms communications manager Céline Meier. The argument is similar. Costs have increased and investments in infrastructure are essential.

Situation in Austria


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It’s not just in Switzerland that prices for skiing are rising. Günther Zangerl from Silvretta Bergbahnen attributes this primarily to inflation in Ischgl. Inflation was particularly high in the energy sector. Therefore, a day ticket in the ski area costs 72 euros next season, 7.5 percent more than last year.

However, the prices should not have to be increased so much every year. Zangerl is counting on a decline in high inflation so that price increases can be more moderate in the future.

There are also problems caused by climate change. Warm winters shorten the ski season, which means that ski areas have to get more out of fewer ski days. In addition, more work will be necessary, explains Meier: “The slopes have to be prepared and snow-covered. With climate change, this is becoming more and more common.”

Dynamic pricing models are booming

More and more ski areas are setting their prices dynamically. A day pass costs less in the off-season or in bad weather, but more on peak days. Around half of the large Swiss ski areas now rely on such a system.

Since this season, Adelboden-Lenk has also been relying on dynamic prices. The goal is to be able to better direct the flow of visitors, says Stefanie Inniger, media spokeswoman for Adelboden-Lenk: “On peak days we try to take a bit of countermeasure. And skiing should be priced more attractively in the off-season.”

With dynamic prices, the ski areas only have in mind the maximization of profits.

Dynamic pricing models are actually hidden price increases, criticizes Sara Stalder from the Foundation for Consumer Protection (SKS). The average price for a day ticket in these ski areas usually increases with dynamic prices.

Stalder explains this in more detail: “With dynamic prices, the ski areas only have in mind the maximization of profits. Early bird discounts with dynamic pricing models are also just a pretextual argument. Because such offers already existed before the dynamic pricing models.

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