DESPITE a drop in the value of the Australian dollar against the Yen, Japan’s lift tickets are still the best value in the world for Australian residents.
A half-year update of an Australian Alpine Club Niseko survey reveals Niseko and Hakuba on Japan’s mainland have the cheapest lift tickets in the world in Australian dollar terms.
The survey also revealed the cost of riding the lifts in North America was now the highest in the world for Aussies at almost twice the price of Japan.
At the time the survey was conducted on October 15, 2008, $AUD 1 was buying JPY 70.46, making a Niseko day pass $73.
At the same time, Colorado resort Vail tickets cost $122, followed by other North American resorts Alta Snowbird ($120), Deer Valley ($113) and Whistler ($98), according to the survey.
Australian resorts were the next most expensive, and European and New Zealand resorts were slightly more affordable, ranging between $77 and $89.
Australian Alpine Club Niseko Chairman Ian Farrow said it should be noted that while lift prices were an indicator, they were not the sole element in a snowsports value proposition.
The value of the Australian dollar against the Yen rebounded this week after dropping to five-year lows below JPY65 / AUD last week.
Full table and analysis at the Australian Alpine Club Niseko’s blog at http://aacniseko.blogspot.com/2008/10/japan-is-best-snowsports-value.html