French ski resorts shone during the school Christmas holidays, welcoming holidaymakers en masse from 21 December 2024 to 4 January 2025. According to data provided by the Observatoire National des Stations de Montagne (ANMSM) in collaboration with G2A, the occupancy rate reached an impressive 85%, with a remarkable peak of 94% during the second week.
French mountain resorts recorded a significant increase of 11% compared to the same period last year.
Ideal conditions for a promising start to the season
A number of factors have contributed to these exceptional results. The good level of snow cover, uniform across the different massifs, has played a key role, providing optimum conditions for winter sports fans. What’s more, the wide range of activities offered by French ski resorts at Christmas – combining sports, wellness and leisure activities – attracted a varied public and boosted the appeal of the mountains during the winter season.
Méribel: an exceptional start to the season and record visitor numbers
Since its opening on 7 December 2024, Méribel has enjoyed a particularly successful start to the winter season. The Christmas and New Year holidays saw record numbers of visitors. During the week of 21 December, the occupancy rate reached 86.0%, up 1.7 points on the previous year, while the week of 28 December peaked at 97.1%, an all-time record with an increase of 8.5 points. These performances reflect Méribel’s growing appeal, supported by impeccable organisation and a wide-ranging festive programme. From the first week of January, the momentum was maintained with an occupancy rate of 69.1%, up 8.9 points on 2023, confirming the appeal of the resort to holidaymakers.
New Year’s Eve festivities of note
New Year’s Eve was celebrated in spectacular style on the Méribel Mottaret snow front. Highlights included the traditional torchlight descent, a flamboyant show organised by La Folie Douce, a captivating musical performance by Sandy Sax and majestic fireworks displays that delighted visitors. This unique festive experience reinforced Méribel’s warm and dynamic image, while providing holidaymakers with unforgettable memories.
According to Gilles Leonard, Director of Méribel Tourisme, these results are the fruit of the commitment of local players, who have been able to offer a high-quality welcome and exceptional events. ‘Thanks to the commitment and involvement of everyone in the valley, we achieved a remarkable occupancy rate of 86.0% and 97.1% over these crucial weeks, with an impressive increase on the previous year’, he explains.
A promising outlook for February and April
After an encouraging January, Méribel is preparing to face the key February holiday period with optimism. Occupancy rates are forecast to be even higher than last year: 90.6% for the week of 15 February (+14.4 points) and 80.7% for the week of 22 February (+12.1 points). These estimates, supported by a family-friendly tourism offer, a bold vision for the future, and expected excellent snow conditions, point to an excellent period for the resort.
Finally, the season will run until 21 April 2025, with attractive offers in April that should ensure sustained visitor numbers right up to the official closing date.
Record attendance at many Pyrenean ski resorts
Visitor numbers up by +28.79% in the N’PY group
The ski resorts in the N’Py network, which includes Peyragudes, Piau-Engaly, Grand Tourmalet, Pic du Midi, Luz-Ardiden, Cauterets, Gourette and La Pierre Saint-Martin, recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers, up 28.79% on the previous season and 32.06% on the average for the last six active seasons. These results even exceed those of the exceptional 2019-2020 and 2021-2022 seasons, before and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Between 21 December 2024 and 3 January 2025, these resorts recorded “record visitor numbers ’, with 381,794 ski days consumed. Since the slopes opened, 438,604 ski days have been recorded, a figure close to that of the 2019-2020 season.
The No Souci Pyrénées card continues to attract new fans, with almost 100,000 users, an increase of 9% in one year.
For the N’Py group, “January looks promising and reasonably priced. Anyone who can take a few days off after the Christmas holidays will benefit from special rates, in particular a 40% discount from Monday 13 to Friday 17 January for holders of the No Souci Pyrénées card, and special offers on accommodation’.
Visitor numbers up by +33% in Saint-Lary
The positive momentum is also reflected in individual performances, such as at Saint-Lary, where visitor numbers were up 33% on the previous year, even slightly exceeding the levels for the 2021-2022 reference season.
The exceptionally sunny New Year’s week saw a 91.62% occupancy rate, well above the 73.15% recorded for the Christmas week.
‘We’re on the basis of a record season,” Akim Boufaid, Director of the Saint-Lary resort, told La Dépêche du Midi: ’We’ve seen a 33% increase on last season and we’re even slightly ahead of 2021-2022, which is the benchmark season. There were so many people in the resort that some shops were faced with a small shortage. We recorded an average attendance of more than 8,500 skiers, rising to 12,000 on peak days. These figures are very comforting: they show that snow still makes people dream and makes them happy’.
The small ski resorts in the Matheysine are doing (very) well
L’Alpe du Grand Serre: +30% visitor numbers
From 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025, the Alpe du Grand Serre resort, currently revived by SATA, welcomed 16,852 skiers, marking a significant increase of 30% compared to the 2021-2022 Christmas period, which saw 12,717 visitors. This comparison is apt, given that the two winters offered similar conditions in terms of snow cover and slope opening times. These figures bode well for a promising season.
Col d’Ornon: success for adult and children ski passes
With 13.5 days open over the Christmas fortnight, the Col d’Ornon was also remarkably busy. Thanks to generous snow cover (1 metre at the top of the pistes and 70 cm at the bottom), the resort sold 767 adult passes and 384 children’s passes between 21 December and 5 January. Compared with the Christmas holidays in the reference year 2021/2022, sales almost doubled (405 adult day passes and 179 children’s day passes over the same period). The Côtes ski lift, on a green slope, recorded 1,700 visits per day, confirming the appeal of this small, friendly resort to winter sports fans.
Les Signaraux: tobogganing, Nordic skiing and unforgettable views
At Les Signaraux, the large groomed toboggan run delighted families, while the hors sac room, open 12 days, was manned by a team of dedicated volunteers. The only one of its kind in France, visitors can enjoy a coffee for just €1. Outside, the breathtaking scenery offers panoramic views of the Vercors, Oisans, Dévoluy and Chartreuse. The resort also offers 26km of Nordic ski runs, renowned for their technical challenges.
Notre-Dame de Vaulx: fireworks and a friendly atmosphere
The Notre-Dame de Vaulx ski lift, run by a team of enthusiastic volunteers, delighted skiers during its 7-day opening. With 150 passes sold for just €3 and a peak of 45 skiers on a single day, the resort shone with its authenticity. The holiday season culminated in a torchlight parade and fireworks display on 1 January, attracting locals and visitors alike.
Ski resorts, a key economic driver
Jean-Luc Boch, Chairman of the ANMSM, emphasises the economic importance of this tourist activity. “At a time of uncertainty in many sectors, we should be delighted that the enthusiasm for our mountains and for winter tourism is as strong as ever, contributing to the success of national tourism. This affluence supports not only local businesses but also hundreds of thousands of jobs in the mountain regions.
The mountains, always a winner
The success of the Christmas holidays confirms that the mountains remain a key destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts, consolidating their crucial role in the French tourism industry. With the season off to an auspicious start, industry professionals can look to the future with optimism.
At the same time, against a backdrop of major challenges posed by climate change, French ski resorts are continuing to diversify their activities and adapt to the new environmental realities. This effort is a testament to their resilience and their ability to meet holidaymakers’ expectations while preparing for a sustainable future.
