In spite of the rainy start to December, the New Hampshire tourism industry is expecting a record-breaking winter. The states’ tourism officials are expecting 2.9 million visits from outsiders, and are predicted to spend $1.3 billion. WMUR spoke with Jessyca Keeler, who is the President of SkiNH, to discuss why they think this will be a monumental year for the state’s tourism industry.
A big factor in this prediction is convenience. While gas prices have been decreasing, inflation and a potential energy cost surge this winter will likely draw guests on shorter trips from home. Most out-of-state visits come from the Boston area, so getting to a major mountain in the shortest time possible is a critical desire for tourists.
Capital improvements will also drive tourists to return to the Granite State. A six-pack bubble chairlift is being added over at Waterville Valley, a refurbished high-speed quad is replacing the Seven Brothers Triple at Loon Mountain, and Attitash has opened a new fixed-grip quad chairlift. Two ski resorts, which have been closed since 2020, are also planning on making a comeback this winter: Granite Gorge and Tenney Mountain.
So far, the signs of this prediction becoming true haven’t looked great due to all the rain and inconsistent temperatures, but a cold front that’s about to come in will help ski resorts make snow again. Additionally, the past couple of weeks isn’t really that crucial for ski resort visitation, as it really begins to matter around Christmas time. The video report from WMUR is below.
Image/Video Credits: Cannon Mountain, WMUR News 9
