Niseko Visitor Numbers - Winter 08/09 July 16 2009, 4:05pm via thevaleniseko.com

AUSTRALIA: - 37%

• The Australian market suffered more than most last year due to a dramatic shift in the exchange rate between the AU dollar and the yen
• Pull back only reverted to 06/07 numbers.

ASIA:  + 7.9%

• Diverse geographic, socio economic and cultural catchment.
• Robust long term growth via direct and agency based bookings.

HONG KONG: + 18.5%

• Surging growth in visitation (reflected by HK dominated winter sales enquiry).
• Word of mouth continues to promote the advantages a nearby Asian resort such as Niseko has over its North American rivals (food, onsens, safety, travel time, time difference etc).

SINGAPORE: - 8%

• This was a surprise to most of us (certainly not reflected in NISADE’s guest figures).
• To put this drop in perspective, more than 3 times the number of Singaporeans visited Niseko in 2008/09 than did in 2006/07.

KOREA: - 42%
TAIWAN: - 24%

• The domestic ski industry in Korea, feeling the pinch of the economic crisis offered hugely discounted rates in an effort to persuade Korean skiers to holiday domestically.
• Like the Australian market trend, these are dramatic falls which were preceded by even more dramatic increases the year before.

MALAYSIA: + 497.5%
THAILAND: + 149%
RUSSIA: + 236%

• These new markets in Niseko began to show their potential of becoming major players over the next 5-10 years.

NORTH AMERICA: + 59%
EUROPE: - 2%

• While still at a very low base, there were promising figures within these markets.

CANADA: + 481%
FRANCE: + 325%
GERMANY: + 200%

• Growth until this point has been almost entirely through word of mouth.
• We project a continued steep increase in skiers from these large, mature ski markets as skiers look for a richer cultural experience on ski holiday.
• Also on-ground operators have not yet even begun to proactively market their accommodation offerings through European / American based travel agents.