Thanks to crowdfunding: Saas-Fee draws a positive balance for the winter season
Saas-Fee can look back on a successful winter season. The key to this success was the 2016/17 Wintercard, a season pass priced at 222 francs, which was made possible by a crowdfunding campaign.
After this year's Easter weekend, those responsible are drawing a thoroughly positive conclusion to the season. "Compared to the previous year, we were able to increase hotel overnight stays in Saas-Fee by over 15 percent in the period from November 1, 2016 to April 17, 2017, and arrivals even by over 22 percent," says a pleased Pascal Schär, Managing Director of Saastal Marketing.
The key to this very positive result was the Wintercard launched through a crowdfunding campaign. Throughout the winter season, snow sports enthusiasts in Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell could indulge in winter fun for just CHF 222 (Werbewoche.ch reported). The campaign created by Matter Gretener Lesch attracted quite a few guests to travel to the Saas Valley several times, even for shorter stays. According to the statement, the entire destination ultimately benefited from the Wintercard; whether hotels, restaurants, stores or mountain railroads. "Thanks to the strong growth in the number of guests, optimism and confidence can be felt throughout the valley," adds Pascal Schär.
Saastal Bergbahnen can also report pleasing figures. In the two ski resorts of Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell, 490,581 "Skier Days" (number of day tickets sold) were recorded between November 1, 2016 and April 17, 2017, which represents an increase of over 50 percent compared to last year's winter season. On peak days, the number of guests reached was the highest since 2008.
Urs Zurbriggen, deputy head of Saastal Bergbahnen, comments on the pleasing season: "The Wintercard campaign was a complete success not only for Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell, but for the entire winter tourism industry in the valley. Thanks to the Wintercard, we were able to welcome many satisfied snow sports enthusiasts from near and far to the Saas Valley, and that is the very best advertising for the region."
Crowdfunding deal is implemented for the second time
The winter ski pass is also available in the 2017/18 season for 222 francs. The required number of 77,777 people was already reached two days before the crowdfunding campaign expired, as Saastal Marketing writes in a statement on Thursday. Registration has also been extended by one day and will run until Sunday, April 23, 2017 via the platform We-make-it-happen.ch. The Hochsaas cable cars are now also participating in the campaign - the ski pass is thus valid for an additional 40 kilometers of slopes. (pd/hae)
