The breathtaking scenery, healthy lifestyle and local market conditions are helping resorts in the French Alps to weather the effects of Covid better than other second-home destinations, reported SkiingProperty. For many people, being in a mountain resort surrounded by stunning natural scenery has become an antidote to the unpleasant consequences of the pandemic. The result is that many have discovered the benefits and year-round appeal of this magical environment.
And with early snow already falling in some resorts, the excitement generated about the Alps in the summer is rolling into this coming winter season. Covid has created a major shift towards people wanting to be somewhere with fresh clean air, uncrowded natural space and easy access to an active lifestyle. Very few environments offer all this to the same extent as the French Alps.
Being at altitude has health benefits for your heart too, helping to lower the risk of cardio-vascular diseases. Meanwhile, keeping active and doing exercise comes with the territory in the Alps, whether its doing winter sports or one of the many outdoor activities suited to the warmer months.
Skiing and other winter sports are the obvious attraction of the French Alps, but most resorts there have just as much to offer active types outside of the winter months. From outdoorsy pursuits, such as mountain-biking, climbing, rafting, canyoning and trekking, to enjoying the world-class leisure amenities available in many larger resorts, including golf courses, aqua parks, indoor sports facilities and swimming pools, health and fitness centres, there are so many ways to combine having fun with staying fit.
Covid has done a lot to raise awareness of the dual seasonality of the Alps, in particular in the Haute Savoie region, which reported as being its busiest summer ever. Resorts there recorded occupancy levels of 80 per cent during July and August this year, compared with a more typical level of circa 40 per cent. This was thanks to people, in particular the French, staying away from crowded coastal resorts, instead heading to the mountains.
