BEIJING: China’s ice and snow economy is thriving, turning its natural “cold resources” into a burgeoning “hot economy” for the nation.
From to increasing visits by skiers, the rise of snow tourism is creating fresh opportunities for regions across the country as winter takes hold, amid strong support from government policies and infrastructure development.
Zhao Yin, a 28-year-old marketing professional from Shanghai, and her friends visited Songhua Lake Ski Resort in Northeast China’s Jilin province late in November.
She said the trip, along with other ski and snowboard lovers, was memorable and ended up costing only about 3,000 yuan, thanks to seasonal discounts on flights, ski fees and local consumption coupons.
“Being in nature and focusing on the moment are a lot of fun, especially when you are with a group of family and friends,” she said of her outing in the new snow season.
Zhao, an avid snowboarder, also hires private instructors to refine her skills, though not for every ski trip, paying an average of 500 yuan per hour.
“Each time I snowboard, I feel like I learn something new. It’s all about controlling your body,” she said.
Zhao’s enthusiasm reflects a broader trend.
Wu Bin, founder and chief executive officer of Beijing Snowpal Enterprise Management Co Ltd, said: “The passion to experience and participate in skiing has surged, stimulating ice and snow tourism across the country.”
The winter sports industry in the country saw a 16.3% increase in skier visits during the financial year ending on April 30, 2024, with 23.08 million visits recorded compared to 19.83 million in the previous year, according to the China Ski Industry White Book (2023-24) released in November.
The number of individual skiers grew 14.5% to 12.8 million, and the per capita skiing frequency increased 1.8 times from 1.77 times last year, according to the report, which has been compiled by Beijing Snowpal.
Supporting this growth has been a boom in the development of ski resorts. — China Daily/ANN
