Industry News
Much of the East Coast and especially the Northeast just received its first major heat wave of the summer making it unbearable to go outside for most people. The extreme heat brings thoughts and memories of the snow and hitting the slopes during the winter for skiers. The thoughts on climate change and the warming trends that have been happening around the world are a big concern to any winter enthusiast but also the ski industry. Some believe that one of the answers to this issue is indoor ski facilities. North America is home to only one such facility whereas other countries around the world already have several and plan to build more. China is one of those countries.
A new report has found that China now has 50 indoor ski centers representing 7.17% of the 697 ski resorts in the country. The newly released 2022-2023 China Ski Industry White Book by local expert Wu Bin (Benny Wu) reports that while overall China’s skier visits dropped by nearly 10% last winter, indoor snow centers saw growth of 6.47% compared with 21-22. On June 18, the signing ceremony for the Taicang Alps Resort Phase II of the project took place. Phase II of the project plans on building a one-stop ice and snow-themed urban resort destination under Fosun Tourism Group.
Phase I of the project featured six major themed experience zones: Alps Snow Live Ski Resort, Alps Snow Live Ice and Snow Park, Club Med Urban Oasis Taicang Resort, Alps Times, Alps Camp, and Alps Cosmos. The Phase II project will include the world’s largest indoor ski resort, hotels with snow views, theme hotels, water parks, land parks, hot springs, aquariums, and other related facilities, offering extensive one-stop snow-themed city vacation experiences.
The Taicang Alps Resort Phase II project is funded by the Taicang Municipal Government and managed by the Fosun Tourism Group. Guided by its mission to become the largest-scale one-stop snow-themed resort destination, the Phase II project aims to set several world records in ski resorts, including the longest indoor ski slope and the most comprehensive entertainment facilities.
The ski resort will cover an area of approximately 190,000 square meters, making it the largest indoor ski resort in the world. The design was inspired by “Xiangyun Ruyi” (Auspicious Clouds), and it echoes the “Snow Ruyi” of the Beijing Winter Olympics’ Zhangjiakou outdoor ski resorts. The ski resort will feature three slopes: a snowboard, an intermediate, and an advanced slope. Skiers of all levels can enjoy a total slope length of 1,700 meters, including a 690-meter single slope with a vertical drop of 120 meters.
Phase II of the project plans on adding many features and activities that the whole family will enjoy. Those include snow-view hotels and themed hotels, offering a variety of themed rooms to create an immersive accommodation experience. The resort will also feature a water park, a land park, hot springs, an aquarium, and dining shows. With other activities like dome walking, bungee jumping, and interactive light shows, the resort will offer a rich and diverse one-stop ski experience.
The only indoor skiing facility in North America is Big SNOW in Rutherford, New Jersey, which is right outside of New York City and opened in 2019. There are plans to build another indoor facility outside of Washington, D.C., but that project has been delayed since 2019. The 400,000-square-foot complex is set to be built on a portion of the Fairfax County Recycling and Disposal Center.
In recent years, China has been trying to grow tourism within the ski industry, or the ‘ice-snow tourism industry’ as it is called in China. On September 29, 2023, the State Council released a Notice on Several Measures to Promote High-Quality Development of the Tourism Industry. The report aimed to address some of the key barriers that have deterred foreign tourists. These measures target safety concerns, visa complexities, and the country’s unique payment systems that pose challenges for international visitors. “Develop the ice-snow economy, promote the entire industrial chain of winter sports, equipment, and tourism, and strengthen ski resorts,” The State Council stated in the report.
China’s expanding winter sports consumer base is driving rising market demand. The ice-snow tourism industry has evolved from solely ticket sales to a diversified consumption model, with ice-snow products advanced from sports and sightseeing attributes to a vacation model integrating sports, tourism, and entertainment. The goal of Taicang Alps Resort is to attract 300 million people in ice and snow activities.
Since its opening, the Alps International Resort has attracted approximately 320,000 visitors. With the launch of the Phase II project, Taicang Alps Resort is hoping to become the world’s leading and largest indoor ice-snow vacation and entertainment destination. China has already seen the success its 50 indoor ski resorts have produced and is hoping that adding more facilities that specialize in winter activities will attract more international visitors. However, this time, this indoor snow facility is going to be the biggest in the world!
