Ski Pass Price Hikes in Italy Threaten Accessibility, Warns Consumer Group
Rising costs for ski passes in Italy this winter risk making the sport unaffordable for most, according to the head of an Italian consumer organization.
From the northern Alps and Dolomites to the central Abruzzo region, prices could increase by up to 40% compared to 2021, as reported by the watchdog group Assoutenti.
A daily pass for "Dolomiti Superski," which covers access to all 12 resorts in the high-cost Dolomites, will cost €86 this season. In Roccaraso, a well-known ski area in Abruzzo’s Apennines that saw overcrowding last season due to social media attention, a daily pass is expected to reach €60.
Seasonal passes will range from €755 per adult in Roccaraso to as much as €1,800 in the Aosta Valley. Equipment rentals, accommodation, and dining have also seen price increases.
Gabriele Melluso, president of Assoutenti, called the hikes "completely unjustified and unacceptable," dismissing arguments citing higher energy prices, resort maintenance, and demand for improved equipment. He noted that inflation in Italy is under control and energy costs, which drove up expenses for resorts in 2022, have stabilized.
Melluso warned that the steep prices are forcing lower-income families to abandon their traditional ski holidays entirely. He pointed to a noticeable decline in mountain tourism this season, with 1 million fewer Italians visiting slopes compared to the previous year due to the increased costs.
Despite the rises, Italy remains a more affordable skiing destination in Western Europe than Switzerland, France, and Austria.
The price concerns arise as Italy prepares to host the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy has proposed a UN-backed "global truce" during the event, emphasizing a "message of peace and dialogue to halt conflicts during the Games."
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