After the challenging start to the 2018/2019 winter sports season, more ski visits were registered over public holidays as well as during the main holiday season in the Jungfrau Ski Region than during last year’s season. Not least, the long-lasting good weather and the excellent snow conditions in February contributed to the positive result. With 1,045,955 skier visits from the beginning of the season up to 28 April 2019, the entire Jungfrau Ski region recorded an increase of 5.9% on the winter sports season 2017/2018. However, visitor numbers are still lower than in the successful winter sports season of 2007/2008.
Biggest growth for Grindelwald and Wengen
The Jungfrau Ski Region consists of the sub-ski areas of Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and Mürren-Schilthorn. Overall, the areas of Grindelwald and Wengen recorded the largest increase in visitors. In the First area, 6.2 per cent more winter sports enthusiasts were registered than in the previous year. In the Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen area, a total of 607,333 guests enjoyed their skiing in front of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, an increase of 7.6 per cent. In Mürren 226,807 skier visits (+ 1.9%) were registered for the Schilthorn area.
Top4 skipass with new scope of validity
Together with Adelboden-Lenk, Gstaad and Meiringen-Hasliberg, the Jungfrau Ski Region is launching the third edition of the Top4 skipass next winter. At their tariff conference, the association partners of the Jungfrau Ski Region adjusted the scope of validity of the Top4 subscription. From the winter sports season 2019/2020, the Mürren-Schilthorn area will no longer be included in the Top4 skipass. Evaluations of the last season have shown that around 70 per cent of the Top4 skipass holders in the Jungfrau Ski Region took part in winter sports exclusively in the sub-areas of Grindelwald and Wengen and did not make use of the offer in the Mürren-Schilthorn area.
With the opening of the new Grindelwald-Männlichen (GGM) aerial gondola as part of the V project on 14 December 2019, the Jungfrau Ski Region is realising a massive increase in quality with the latest facilities and direct public transport connections. Due to the shorter arrival time and the increased comfort, it can be assumed that demand will shift even more towards Grindelwald and Wengen. The price of the Top4 skipass will not increase in the coming season, even with the new rail service. Managers are convinced that the adjusted Top4 skipass is an offer tailored to visitors’ needs.
Offer for Mürren guests and locals
The Top4 skipass still includes the journey from Interlaken Ost via Lauterbrunnen and Grütschalp with the BLM to Mürren. Thus, all Mürren guests with the Top4 skipass can travel free of charge to Mürren and reach the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area. Among the subscriptions for locals, there is still one valid in all three sub-ski areas of the Jungfrau Ski Region. From next season, this will be available for 599 Swiss francs.
