Your report, "Scottish skiing hits the skids, despite snow" (25 March) is factually incorrect and potentially damaging for Scotland's snowsports industry.
Over the years, many changes have taken place at Scotland's five snowsports areas – CairnGorm Mountain, Glencoe, Glenshee, The Lecht and Nevis Range – some of which are touched upon in your report, including the lower volume of people who ski and sno
wboard in Scotland. There are many reasons for this, not least a strange and new perception that winter finishes in February (just when the snow is really building up).
We know that customer expectations are changing and there is easier access to snowsports abroad, and many people believe (incorrectly) that Scotland no longer has snow.
As ski companies, we are realistic in our expectations and less reliant on high-volume winter business. We are also honest with our customers and "tell it as it is". We do not have, and do not expect, as many customers as in the 1980s and 90s, however, the snowsports areas are all on target for a good season, with excellent conditions expected well into April. To say our industry is "on the skids" is both incorrect and irresponsible.
MARIAN AUSTIN, Chair, Scottish Snowsports Marketing Group, Nevis Range, Torlundy, Fort William
The full article contains 212 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
