French ski resorts invested a total of 568 million euros in 2024 – a figure determined by the annual survey of the magazine Montagne Leaders in collaboration with Atout France and Domaines Skiables de France. This amount slightly exceeds the previous year’s investment of 546 million euros.

With these investments, operators reinvested 34 percent of their net revenue – an exceptionally high figure, nine percentage points above the average of the past ten years. For Anne Marty, president of Domaines Skiables de France, this is a clear signal:

“Which other tourism sector reinvests a third of its revenue? This decision is well thought out and also based on Climsnow® studies, which simulate snow conditions up to 2050 and 2080, providing valuable foundations for strategic decisions“.

Where is the money going?

The investments vary greatly by region: 279.4 million euros went to Savoie, 115.2 million to Haute-Savoie, 88 million to Isère, 44 million to the Southern Alps, 37.8 million to the Pyrenees, 1.9 million to the Vosges, and 1.3 million each to the Jura and the Massif Central. This distribution also reflects the particular challenges of winter 2023/24, which was especially difficult for mid-altitude areas.

What is being invested in?

A large part of the investments is going into the construction and modernization of cable cars and lifts. This includes the completion of the new Jandri gondola in Les 2 Alpes, the comprehensive redesign of the TransArc lift in Les Arcs, as well as the Valléen and Alpin gondolas in Saint-Gervais.

In addition, 71 million euros were invested in new buildings to improve guest services. It is notable, however, that the number of new cable car installations has declined significantly: in 2016, there were 39 new installations, whereas in 2024, there are only 22.

Beginner business booming

A record number was reached, however, with beginner conveyor lifts: a total of 36 new installations were built – three times more than the average over the past ten years.

This development clearly shows the strong demand from beginners, which also aligns with the results of the Baromètre Montagne Hiver Année 1 presented by Atout France and its partners in January at the Destination Montagnes trade fair in Grenoble, explains Damien Zisswiller of Atout France.

Particularly strong growth is seen among 18- to 24-year-olds (up four percentage points) and 25- to 34-year-olds (up nine points). Among skiers and snowboarders, there is also a clear increase in the 35- to 49-year-old group (up eight points).

Cross-country skiing numbers are also rising: up six points among 18- to 24-year-olds and up eleven points among 25- to 34-year-olds.

More diversification, more summer

Investments in leisure facilities have increased significantly in recent years: they are 24 percent above the five-year average and even 56 percent above the level of ten years ago. This shows that diversification in mountain regions has been consistently promoted for years.

In the past ten years, a total of 109 million euros has been invested in leisure facilities, compared to only 44 million euros in the decade before (2005–2014). At the same time, cable cars are increasingly designed for summer operation, making it easier for hikers, mountain bikers, and other leisure guests to access the mountains.

Overall, this investment dynamic not only strengthens the tourist appeal but also the social and economic vitality of mountain regions. With a view to the 2030 Winter Olympics, this is a decisive advantage.