Mt Buller. Credit: Jordan Mountain.
A Rough Run for Ski Regions From bush fires to a pandemic, Gwen Luscombe looks at how Australia’s most popular ski areas are expected to fare this winter season fter an incredibly lean 2020, the Australian ski sector is currently enduring another uncertain season as a result of A unpredictable state border closures and lockdowns. As Australian Ski Areas Association (ASAA) Chief Executive, Colin Hackworth explains “the COVID-19 pandemic has presented incredible challenges not just for the Australian ski industry but globally. “Unfortunately, the 2020 winter season was disastrous for Australia’s ski resorts, particularly those in Victoria. While the NSW resorts were able to operate with capacity constraints, the Victorian resorts suffered greatly during the lockdown of greater Melbourne. Mount Hotham and Falls Creek operated for only four days. Mount Buller managed to operate somewhat longer but only for regional Victorians. Alpine businesses are on their knees and unable to withstand another season like 2020.” In a typical (pre-pandemic) year, the Australian ski industry generates $2.4 billion in economic benefit, much of which is generated in regional areas, and employs roughly 23,000 people. In 2020, it’s estimated that 80-90% of that was lost. A 48 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 145
permanent blow which, as Hackworth points out, can’t be “made up”. ASAA’s members, made up of the ski lifting operators of Australia, has remained committed to supporting government and health advice to protect the community and staff and had been anticipating a busy 2021 season having developed and implemented comprehensive COVID-19 operating plans in compliance with government guidelines. However, the pandemic was just one of several blows to the industry recently, with bushfires and rising insurance costs, the industry has had a rough ride. Victoria’s ski industry in particular has seen enormous premium hikes after it was pummelled by bushfires and the pandemic, further threatening the upcoming season. In May this year, a report released by Victoria University and the Victoria Tourism Industry Council warned of too many barriers facing the tourism sector’s recovery in the alpine region, including impossible insurance costs. Surveys of 323 Victorian tourism operators showed businesses faced insurance hikes of up to 400% in bushfire-affected areas.
