Flumserberg Takes Stock After Winter Season, Has Confidence In Summer Season
The 2020/21 winter season has ended at Flumserberg. The Bergbahnen Flumserberg (BBF) takes stock and, like the entire area, recorded a marked decrease in visitors compared to the previous year. The main reasons for this are the nine official closing days over Christmas and the closed restaurants and terraces.
The winter season on Flumserberg with consistently great snow conditions ended on Easter Monday. The COVID-19 pandemic shaped the 2020/21 financial year and was difficult and challenging for the BBF and all high-performers on the mountain. The protection concepts were always adapted to the changing regulations and the necessary measures were quickly implemented.
Decline in visitors in the pandemic winter
According to those responsible at BBF, several reasons led to the decrease in visitors of around 25% compared to previous years. Many guests were more cautious as a result of the pandemic and therefore sometimes stayed away. There was also a lack of comfort, as the terraces had to be closed in addition to the closed restaurants. Groups, schools, companies and clubs were almost completely absent. The officially ordered closure of the St. Gallen ski areas from December 22nd to 30th, 2020 was particularly painful. Christmas and New Year's weeks are the most important times for winter operations, during which up to 30% of total winter sales are achieved.
Sensitive losses in the overall business
In a financial year without Corona, the BBF generated total sales of around CHF 30 million. The BBF calculated the financial loss for the nine days of closure alone to be CHF 2.65 million. Significant losses result above all from the closed gastronomy with take away without terraces as well as the sports shops which are closed during peak hours. In normal winters, BBF generates around 30% of total sales with its six restaurants and around 10% with its four sports shops.
The summer season starts at Pentecost
Those responsible at the BBF are looking forward to the 2021 summer season with confidence. This will start over the extended Whitsun weekend with partial operation of the lifts as well as the CLiiMBER climbing tower, the FLOOMZER toboggan run and the BlueSalamander biker trail. The offer will be adjusted depending on the snowmelt. From Saturday, June 12, 2021, all summer facilities will be in operation daily until Sunday, October 24, 2021.
