Common IC tickets for 10 ski resorts in Nagano
A brand ski resort group “Hakuba Valley” consisting of ten ski resorts in Nagano prefecture started a new service of issuing a common ticket for all of its member resorts(http://www.hakubavalley.jp/english/). The president of the group’s promotion board, Hikari Takanashi announced at the press conference in Tokyo on Nov.24.
This new ticket is called “Hakuba Valley Tickets” can be used at the members resorts by implementing just one purchase procedure of such a common ticket, namely, Jiigatake,Kashimayari,Sanosaka, Goryu, Hakuba47, Happoone,Iwatake,Tsugaikekogen, Hakubanorikura, and Cortina.
The primary purpose of this new service is to increase the number of foreign visitors to those resorts. The number was 85,000 in 2005, but increased up to 225,000 in 2015 which raised by 163.5%, which account for 15% of the total number of the visitors there. The group has an intent to increase such international visitors’ number up to 300,000 which will account for 40% of the total number within 3~4 years. Currently, Australians are 60%, Asians are 30%, and westeners and others are 10%. The group especially would like to increase the number of Asians. As for the prices of Hakuba Valley Tickets, the one-day ticket is ¥5,700(3,200 for a child), the two-day ticket is ¥10,000(5600 for a child), and the three-day is ¥14,900(8300 for a child). The tickest are available at the tickt booths in the each resort and travel agents appointed by the Hakuba Valley.