U.S. ski resorts hosted 59.4 million skier visits last season. The industry directly employs over 196,000 workers and contributes $26 billion to the national economy.
Key Takeaways
- The ski resort industry employed over 196,000 workers in the U.S. during the 2022/23 season
- U.S. ski areas contributed $26 billion to the national economy in 2022 through direct, indirect, and induced impacts
- Over 12,000 seasonal jobs were created by Vail Resorts alone in 2023
- The U.S. ski industry generated $4.5 billion in direct consumer spending during the 2022/23 season
- Global alpine skiing equipment market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $1.8 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.9%
- Average daily lift ticket price in North America rose to $202 in 2023, up 6% from previous year
- In the 2022/23 North American ski season, total skier visits reached 59.4 million across 482 reporting resorts
- 57% of U.S. skiers and snowboarders are repeat visitors who ski more than 10 days per season
- 40% of ski participants in Europe are under 25 years old
- 48% injury rate reduction with modern helmets in skiing
- 90% of resorts invest in snowmaking, covering 70% of terrain
- 55,000 avalanche control missions annually in North America
- The global ski wax market is expected to grow at 4.2% CAGR from 2023-2030 due to performance enhancements
- The lift industry installed 1,200 million passenger capacity worldwide in 2022
- 75% of ski resorts now offer night skiing, up from 60% in 2015
U.S. ski tourism employed 196,000 workers and fueled $26 billion in economic impact in 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Economic Impact16 stats
01
The ski resort industry employed over 196,000 workers in the U.S. during the 2022/23 season
02
U.S. ski areas contributed $26 billion to the national economy in 2022 through direct, indirect, and induced impacts
03
Over 12,000 seasonal jobs were created by Vail Resorts alone in 2023
04
U.S. ski industry supports 77,000 full-time equivalent jobs year-round
05
Direct economic output from Swiss ski tourism was CHF 13 billion in 2022
06
Italian ski lifts transported 52 million passengers in 2022/23
07
Norway’s ski industry employs 50,000 people seasonally
08
1,200 new ski instructors certified in Canada yearly
09
German ski tourism revenue €12 billion in 2022/23
10
Lift maintenance costs average $500,000per resort annually
11
Alterra Mountain Co. employees total 25,000
12
Quebec ski industry $2.5 billion economic impact
13
3,500 professional ski patrollers in North America
14
Slovenia employs 8,000 in ski sector seasonally
15
12,000 ski school instructors in France
16
4,200 mountain ops staff in Vail network
Interpretation
Employment and Economic Impact Interpretation
While the sport may seem like a delightful escape, the ski industry is a serious economic powerhouse, employing hundreds of thousands and injecting billions into national coffers, all while ensuring those pristine slopes are maintained by an army of professionals, from the 3,500 patrollers keeping us safe to the 12,000 instructors teaching us to turn.
02 · Category
Market Size and Financials29 stats
01
The U.S. ski industry generated $4.5 billion in direct consumer spending during the 2022/23 season
02
Global alpine skiing equipment market size was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $1.8 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.9%
03
Average daily lift ticket price in North America rose to $202in 2023, up 6% from previous year
04
Ski boot market revenue reached €450 million in Europe in 2022
05
Austrian ski industry generated €6.5 billion in turnover in 2022/23
06
Japanese ski market revenue hit ¥300 billion in 2022/23 season
07
Average skier spends $1,200per trip on lodging and food
08
92% of U.S. resorts reported profitable operations in 2022/23
09
Global bindings market valued at $450 million, projected 5% CAGR
10
U.S. resort real estate sales generated $2.1 billion in 2022
11
Vail Resorts passholders accounted for 70% of skier visits in 2023
12
Ski apparel market to reach $4.5 billion globally by 2028
13
UK ski holiday market worth £1.2 billion annually
14
Season pass sales up 15% YoY in Europe 2023
15
U.S. ski retail sales $1.8 billion in 2022
16
Global ski tourism market CAGR 6.1% to 2030
17
Rental revenue $900 million in U.S. 2022/23
18
Epic Pass sales exceeded 1.2 million in 2023
19
Andorra ski revenue €250 million annually
20
Ski lesson revenue $750 million U.S. 2022/23
21
Global goggles market $350 million, 4.8% CAGR
22
Ikon Pass revenue $500 million est. 2023
23
Croatia ski revenue €80 million 2022/23
24
Poles market $250 million globally 2023
25
Food & beverage sales $1.2 billion U.S. resorts
26
Gloves market $400 million, 5.2% CAGR
27
Retail footfall up 8% with e-commerce integration
28
Ukraine pre-war ski revenue $150 million annually
29
Tuning services market $180 million Europe
Interpretation
Market Size and Financials Interpretation
While the global ski industry is carving a profitable path with billions in gear, passes, and real estate, the escalating lift ticket prices suggest that the only thing rising faster than the market is the barrier to entry for the average enthusiast.
03 · Category
Participation and Demographics30 stats
01
In the 2022/23 North American ski season, total skier visits reached 59.4 million across 482 reporting resorts
02
57% of U.S. skiers and snowboarders are repeat visitors who ski more than 10 days per season
03
40% of ski participants in Europe are under 25 years old
04
68 million skier visits were recorded in the French Alps in the 2022/23 season
05
28% increase in first-time skiers in U.S. resorts post-COVID in 2022/23
06
53% of U.S. skiers are millennials or Gen Z
07
Ski resorts in Canada saw 13.5 million skier visits in 2022/23
08
15% of global ski participants are from Asia-Pacific region, growing at 7% annually
09
Female participation in snowboarding reached 42% in U.S. in 2023
10
China’s ski resorts numbered over 800 with 30 million visits in 2022/23
11
62% of European skiers prefer family-friendly resorts
12
Australia’s ski season saw 1.1 million visitor days in 2023
13
Swedish ski areas had 6.5 million skier days in 2022/23
14
41% of U.S. skiers aged 18-34
15
New Zealand ski fields recorded 900,000 visits in 2023
16
Spanish ski resorts had 5.2 million visits in 2022/23
17
Finland’s ski resorts attract 2.5 million visitors yearly
18
72% of skiers rent equipment on first visits
19
Poland’s ski market grew 12% in visits 2023
20
Turkey ski resorts 4 million visitors in 2022/23
21
65% of families ski together in Europe
22
South Korea ski visits 10 million in 2022/23
23
29% of U.S. skiers from urban areas over 1M pop
24
Bulgaria ski season 1.8 million skier days 2023
25
52% snowboard participation decline since 2010
26
Romania ski visits up 20% to 2.1 million 2023
27
67% loyalty program membership in major resorts
28
Tasmania ski days 150,000 annually
29
45% of skiers international travelers in Alps
30
38% growth in adaptive skiing programs
Interpretation
Participation and Demographics Interpretation
While North America carves out 59.4 million visits and France's Alps pack a staggering 68 million, the real powder keg is a rejuvenated, youthful, and globalized industry—from China's 30 million visits to 53% of U.S. participants being millennials or Gen Z—where repeat visitors form the loyal core, first-timers are on the rise post-COVID, and family-friendly resorts are winning the slopes from Europe to Asia.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety Environment and Infrastructure12 stats
01
48% injury rate reduction with modern helmets in skiing
02
90% of resorts invest in snowmaking, covering 70% of terrain
03
55,000 avalanche control missions annually in North America
04
80% carbon reduction goal by 2030 for top resorts
05
Snowmaking uses 200 million cubic meters water yearly worldwide
06
50% terrain sustainability certification in Alps
07
1,100 avalanche fatalities worldwide last decade
08
22% energy savings from LED piste lighting
09
65 resorts with zero-waste initiatives
10
Helmets reduce head injury by 51%
11
30% groomed terrain average per resort
12
Solar power at 15% of U.S. resorts' energy mix
Interpretation
Safety Environment and Infrastructure Interpretation
While modern helmets and relentless avalanche control sharply reduce human tragedy, the ski industry's love affair with artificial snow and energy-hungry slopes presents a steep environmental powder keg it's now desperately trying to defuse with solar panels and zero-waste pledges.
05 · Category
Trends and Technology17 stats
01
The global ski wax market is expected to grow at 4.2% CAGR from 2023-2030 due to performance enhancements
02
The lift industry installed 1,200 million passenger capacity worldwide in 2022
03
75% of ski resorts now offer night skiing, up from 60% in 2015
04
Adoption of RFID ticketing reached 85% in major North American resorts
05
35% of skiers use apps for trail maps and conditions daily
06
Electric snow groomers adopted by 20% of resorts for sustainability
07
25% growth in freestyle terrain parks since 2010
08
AI weather forecasting used by 60% of resorts for operations
09
Drone inspections reduce lift downtime by 30%
10
VR training for instructors adopted by 15% resorts
11
IoT sensors on 40% of pistes for real-time conditions
12
Blockchain for pass sales in 10% resorts
13
Autonomous grooming vehicles tested at 5 resorts
14
Machine learning for snow forecast accuracy 95%
15
AR glasses prototypes for navigation in trials
16
Biodegradable lift tickets in 25% European resorts
17
5G networks for guest services at 40 resorts
Interpretation
Trends and Technology Interpretation
The ski industry is busily upgrading the mountain with more night lights and RFID passes, while quietly betting its future on AI-powered snowflakes, drones that fix chairlifts, and the urgent need for faster wax.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Catherine Wu. (2026, February 13). Ski Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ski-industry-statistics
MLA
Catherine Wu. "Ski Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/ski-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Catherine Wu. 2026. "Ski Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ski-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
69 datasets cited across this report