日本雪场数量减少 外国游客“撑场面”

Core Insights - Japan's ski industry is facing a decline in the number of ski resorts due to global warming, aging facilities, and a decrease in domestic visitors, with foreign tourists becoming the mainstay of the industry [1][2] Group 1: Ski Resort Statistics - The number of ski resorts in Japan peaked at 698 in 1999 and has been decreasing annually, projected to drop to 417 by 2025, marking a historical low [1] - Hokkaido has the highest number of ski resorts at 92, followed by Nagano Prefecture with 80 and Niigata Prefecture with 46 [1] - The number of people skiing in Japan has drastically decreased from 18.6 million in 1993 to an estimated 2.8 million in 2024 [1] Group 2: Impact of Climate Change and Demographics - Climate change has led to insufficient snowfall, increasing operational costs, and a reduction in the number of operating days for ski resorts [1] - The aging population and declining birth rates in Japan, along with the diversification of interests among younger generations, contribute to the decreasing interest in skiing [1] Group 3: Foreign Tourist Influence - Foreign tourists have become a significant source of revenue for Japan's ski industry, with an expected 10.5 million visitors from December 2024 to February 2025, a 33% increase from 7.9 million in the same period in 2018 [2] - Popular ski resorts among foreign tourists include Niseko in Hokkaido and Hakuba in Nagano, with nearly half of the tourists visiting Niseko [2] - Smaller, less-known ski resorts are struggling and closing due to a lack of visitors, while high-end resorts are adapting by hiring English-speaking staff to cater to foreign tourists [2]