As the ski season gets underway in earnest — and despite a lack of snow in many parts of BC and beyond —  the Canada West Ski Areas Association is expecting it to be another strong winter.

President and CEO Christopher Nicholson says that is because of another influx of international travellers from places like the US, Australia, and Europe, though he cautions that the sector hasn’t fully recovered yet after COVID-19 shutdowns.

“We’re seeing very very strong visitation out of the US,” he said. “Some of what we’ll refer to as the overseas markets, be it in Europe or be it places like Australia or New Zealand, are definitely rebuilt, but they haven’t regained entirely the ground they lost.”

“Other markets like – let’s say Ontario – have been very strong.”

Nicholson says while the last few years have been difficult for the tourism industry across Canada, outdoor operations like ski hills have fared reasonably well.

But still, he says the lack of international travellers on the slopes has meant that revenue isn’t where it was pre-pandemic.

“For those destination areas and the communities upon those visitor economies are based, that market segment is vital both in the winter and in the summer,” Nicholson said.