The Canadian Ski Council has released visitor numbers from last ski season that are lower than the previous year, but Marmot Basin says they still had a good year.

Because Marmot Basin does not rely as much on international and US visitors, their season didn’t see the same effect the recent economic downfall has had on the industry, according to ski hill officials.

Down from 20.5 million visitors in the 2007-2008 season to 18.4 million in the 2008-2009 season, many Canadian ski resorts had a substantially lower visitor rate.

Brian Rode of Marmot Basin said those numbers reflect ski areas closer to the US and international airports, and said that Europe was also down in numbers
“The Banff areas, the Whistler areas, and southern BC where the Americans can come up or places where the resort is close to an airport so an American can fly in and go to a resort (are the ones being affected the most),” Rode said. “They had a higher dependency on US business. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because those international travelers have a tendency to stay longer, and they also have definitely a tendency to spend more money at the resort.”

“The Edmontonian, who we love dearly, and from Grande Prairie, etc, the regional skiers, they drive here, they get their hotel room, they go skiing, they have something to eat, they might do a little shopping but not much, and off they go,” said Rode.

Rode said those relying on the international traveler were definitely hit harder, but that the international traveler is vitally important to all resort destinations, including Marmot Basin.

At first glance, he said, you might say we should just continue to be nothing but a regional ski area because of what has happened to those so heavily reliant on international skiers and visitors.

“Well my answer is that, wait a second, we need that longer stay,” Rode said. “When was the last time we saw that kind of a recession? Never. So it happens so infrequently, Marmot won’t be changing strategies to continue to try and build our international market.”

Rode said considering the market conditions, Marmot Basin came out of the season quite strong.

Looking towards next season, the ski area is well underway installing a new chairlift, which will be the biggest in Canada being put in this season. The Peak-to-Peak in Whistler is longer, but it is a gondola.