SYDNEY, June 27 (Xinhua) -- New data from the National Bank of Australia (NAB) has shown a spending boom in Australia's most popular winter holiday destinations, as Aussies swarm the slopes after two seasons in lockdown.
The report, released on Monday, showed that in just the first two weeks of Australia's snow season beginning June 4, over 28 million Australian dollars (about 19.4 million U.S. dollars) were spent in the alpine regions of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW).
"We've supported many of our customers in tourism through the pandemic and I'm delighted to see people going to the slopes and supporting local business and communities to thrive again," said NAB Executive for Regional and Agribusiness Julie Rynski.
The data showed that spending in alpine regions boomed from the start of the snow seasons. Spending on accommodation jumped 71 percent, 42 percent on eating out, with a staggering 195 percent increase in spending on sporting goods.
Ski resorts across Victoria and NSW have boasted a record start to the snow seasons as alpine areas were blanketed with record snowfall in the first weeks of June.
Mt Buller ski resort in Victoria, about three hours' drive from Melbourne, experienced nearly one meter of snowfall ahead of its opening, and many resorts reported snowfall not normally seen until July or August.
While it was little surprise that business had surpassed seasons' during COVID-19 lockdowns, CEO of alpine park Mount Buller Mark Bennetts said numbers were on track to beat pre-pandemic years.
"The 2018 and 2019 snow seasons were two of our strongest ever yet with the early season snow our visitor numbers are an extraordinary 50 percent higher."
"After an incredibly challenging couple of years, it's fabulous to see families and friends out in the snow skiing, boarding, smiling, posing for photos, throwing snowballs, and making snow angels together. It's what the snow season is all about," added Bennetts. ■