“Sweet-Zerland Bonbons Verbier” is a new sweet shop that’s opened in Verbier.   The shop offer sweets made in Switzerland according to traditional recipes with no colourings, no artificial flavours and no preservatives. The sweeties are available in a choice of 24 different flavours, either loose or in special boxes.

In addition to the sweeties the shop will also sell locally produced cream caramels in a range of flavours along with “Nougat des Alpes”.

Veronica notes “Whilst you might not think this related to Responsible Skiing initially, this is another great example of a business made viable by the tourism in Verbier.   Tourism should support a range of businesses and contribute to livelihoods in a number of ways.   Tourism allows this shop to be viable and stay open all year – meaning that locals benefit too.   It directly offers employment but supports other businesses too, whether it is the local farmers supplying the cream or the suppliers producing the labels and boxes for their products.   When tourism supports a wide variety of businesses that contribute directly to the local economy, it creates sustainable resorts. “
 
 
With the longest ski season in Scotland’s history with CairnGorm Mountain operating at weekends in June, ski-scotland is already evaluating the benefit of what has been a phenomenal season.

Since the season started in late November, Scotland’s five mountain ski areas have had 373,782 skier days, the best result since winter 1995-96. The previous best over the last 15 years was season 2000-01 with over 366,000 skier days, and it is only recently that ski-scotland has realised this figure has been beaten.

“All winter, we realised we were heading for a great season,” said Chair of ski-scotland Heather Negus.

The ski season is estimated to have generated at least £37.5M for the Scottish economy, at a time of year when tourism businesses are generally quiet. This great result is not only good news for the ski companies; research shows that for each £1 spent “on the hill” at a ski area, a further £3 is spent off the hill.  Therefore over £28M has been spent this winter by skiers in local accommodation, cafés, bars, restaurants, shops and filling stations.

“All the ski areas have been delighted to see other local businesses thriving this winter,” continued Heather. “Everything really came together for us – we had lots and lots of superb snow, which kept on coming, some truly amazing overhead weather giving ‘bluebird’ conditions, and, because there was also snow elsewhere in the UK, people realised that the Scottish Highlands did have skiing and snowboarding to rival the best and they came here to enjoy it.”

Veronica Tonge notes “This is a really important example showing just how much downhill skiing can contribute to the local economy and why it is so important – it can help create viable year round businesses in places where there are often not too many options. “

“Many skiers often forget about the great skiing and landscapes available on our own doorstep!  And getting there has never been easier with fast or overnight train services throughout the country”.
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.