Club Med, one of the Premium All-Inclusive operator and global ski holiday leader has unveiled Asia Pacific’s first snow holiday report that highlights that out of a four billion millennial population, 64 per cent Indian prefer travelling to snow destinations for their holidays.
Xavier Desaulles, CEO, Club Med, East and South Asia & Pacific said, “This research is a timely insight into the mind of today’s Asia Pacific consumers who enjoy a snow holiday. The market is evolving rapidly in line with Asia’s growing affluence and interest can only grow fuelled by back-to-back Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and Beijing. This survey is an essential new tool that will allow us to inform and service our clients and regional partners as we understand how their habits and needs are developing and as we open new mountain resorts regionally and globally.”
Personal recommendations depended on online reviews and social media. Countries vary by their choice of booking options possibly depending on avenues available to them and the most value offerings. A recent trend that is to be seen across the APAC is that, guests mostly book transport and accommodation together followed by transport and accommodation separately or a bundle package for accommodation and ski; self-booking or via travel agent is almost equal
The snow holiday market has seen rapid growth in India in the last three years with an estimated 13.8 million travellers in the last three years with 6.9 million in the last one year alone. The numbers correlate with the overall APAC region’s growing affluence and desire to explore the world in a more experiential and different way whether with family or friends.
The average Indian snow holidaymaker is the young age millennial between the age group of 25-34 who prefers exclusive long holidays typically between March and October. Numbers show that the Indian millennials are more attracted towards the adventure activities like Skiing and snowboarding.
While countries like India and Japan have a strong holding of men snow holiday makers at 70 per cent and 83 per cent respectively, countries like Hong Kong SAR (57 per cent), Singapore (56 per cent), Malaysia (58 per cent) and Australia (54 per cent) led the ranking bias towards more female snow holidaymakers.
Snowboarding during snow holidays tops the list for Indians at 66 per cent followed by reconnecting with nature (62 per cent), other mountain activities at 60 per cent, exploring local attraction (59 per cent) and experience different environments at 58 per cent. Spa makes into the top 10 activities for a well-rounded holiday with resorts expected to be well equipped with access to all the necessary facilities.
Apart from Skiing, a well-rounded holiday for Indians include enjoying local food, quality time with family, non-ski activities is important to travellers given that they spend significant time and money on these holidays.
Significantly, 14 per cent of Indian also cited doing nothing as a reason to go to a mountain destination indicating a desire to just get away from it all and enjoy their environment. Unlike in North America and Europe markets which are very ski and snowboard centric, Asia Pacific travellers are looking for a much more diverse snow experience, sometimes with no ski/snowboard practice at all.
For Indian snow enthusiasts, Switzerland was the most popular destination, partly fuelled by the prominence of the country in its Bollywood movie scene. St Moritz in Switzerland was the top long haul destination for Asians looking for a snow getaway.
In Asia Pacific, hotels and resorts were the overwhelming accommodation of choice with 90 per cent selecting this option. High-income Asian travellers are also placing a higher premium on comfort and convenience when they travel on a snow holiday.
In the last 12 months, Club Med was a clear market leader when it comes to snow holidays (number 1 hotel brand) in Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Indonesia amongst the high-income group. With 70,000 Asia Pacific clients travelling to its mountain resorts worldwide in 2018, growing by 60 per cent compared to last year, Club Med is getting close to leadership position in all Asia Pacific markets.
Interest in the mountains and snow holidays extends beyond the winter season with an incredible eight of every 10 respondents in the survey citing intent to go on a mountain holiday in summer within the next two years.
With 23 ski resorts in five countries, Club Med is expanding its leadership of the mountains with ambitious growth plans to cater to global and regional demand for snow holidays and new mountain adventures.
Following the opening of Club Med Tomamu in Hokkaido in December 2017 alongside Club Med Sahoro situated on a former Olympic site, Club Med is growing its resort portfolio in Asia Pacific in the next three years. It will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea and Thaiwoo in China, 2 Olympic sites from the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.
In Europe, Club Med has 20 snow resorts including one nestled on the globally-renowned and Asia’s favourite slopes of St Moritz. Club Med plans to open one new mountain resort in the Alps every year. It will also be back in North America with the opening of a resort in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada in 2020-21.
