It’s all downhill as ski ‘tragics’ dust off plans for overseas travel

After almost two years of no overseas travel, it’s snow holidays rather than beaches that Aussies are craving the most.

Big White ski resort in Kelowna, British Columbia. Picture: Geoff Holman

After almost two years of no overseas travel, it would appear to be snow that Aussies are craving the most ahead of the much anticipated reopening of international borders.

Although flights to London and Los Angeles are the hottest ticket out of the country for Qantas, services to Vancouver are also being heavily booked post-Christmas.

Ski Holiday and Tours director Sue Thorley said that after more than a year with virtually no business, her phone had not stopped ringing since the border announcement last month.

“Up until then we had zero forward bookings from Australian families to go skiing in Canada for the upcoming season. Things were looking bleak for us for a second year running,” she said.

“That pretty much changed overnight with Qantas’s announcement (of a December restart to international flights) and confirmation by the Prime Minister. We have now fielded more than 1500 inquiries with close to 40 already making bookings, they are that confident.”

The average length of stay for bookings was ten days at an average $8000 for a family of four, excluding airfares, with some travellers opting for much longer visits of four to five weeks.

Ms Thorley said the demand was being driven by skiers who had missed the northern winter and the Australian and New Zealand ski seasons for both 2020 and 2021.

“Most of the interest is in Whistler, Banff and Sun Peaks in that order. Whistler has significant brand recognition with travellers. Banff is always a Canadian Rockies favourite and Sun Peaks along with Big White and SilverStar are family holiday favourites in British Columbia,” she said. “Ski-ing tends to get into your blood and it can be hard to live without. It’s a bit like being a footy tragic.”

Qantas and Air Canada have both scheduled non-stop flights between Sydney and Vancouver from December 17 for fully vaccinated travellers.

Brisbane’s Peri Nicol will be on one of the first flights out of Sydney to Vancouver, to enjoy the white Christmas she missed last year.

A Qantas spokeswoman said demand for those flights had rebounded strongly after being out of action since March 2020.

“We’ve been really pleased with the response since we introduced year-round flights between Sydney and Vancouver, which we previously operated as a seasonal route,” said the spokeswoman.

Brisbane’s Peri Nicol was among the first to book flights out of Sydney to Canada for the white Christmas she had hoped to enjoy with husband Frank last year.

“We are so excited we can at least make a booking and keep our fingers crossed,” Ms Nicol said.

“Like everyone we are not younger and I think there are many like me who feel the pandemic has robbed them of years that would have been spent differently. Finally there is hope.”

Retired farmer Alex Druce, of Warren in central New South Wales shared Ms Nicol’s sentiments. “I’ve only got a few more years of ski-ing left in me and I want to make the most of them,” said the 62-year-old.

Destination Canada’s Nathan McLoughlin welcomed the travel optimism and airlines’ commitment to connecting the country with Australia.