Mountain travel is mainstream.
UN Tourism’s most recent assessment puts mountain tourism at 9–16% of all international tourist arrivals, equal to roughly 195–375 million travelers in a pre-pandemic baseline year (2019).
On the winter side, the 2023/24 season delivered more than 366 million skier visits worldwide, underscoring the sector’s resilience.
Key stats: Mountain Tourism
- 9–16% of international tourists travel to mountain destinations — that’s 195 to 375 million people globally (2019 benchmark).
- Some analyses place mountain tourism at 15–20% of all global tourism in terms of participation or market share.
- The mountain & snow tourism market was valued at USD 4.81 billion in 2024, on track to reach USD 5.13 billion in 2025.
- Projections suggest it could balloon to ~USD 7.97–8.0 billion by 2033, growing at ~5–6% annually.
- In 2024, nearly 2,000 ski resorts in 68 countries were tracked, underscoring the global footprint of alpine/winter tourism.
- That sector is expected to grow at a 6.7% CAGR between 2025 and 2035.
- Mountain regions are often second only to coastal areas in tourism popularity.
- Example: Rocky Mountain National Park drew ~4.12 million visitors in 2023, with ~USD 568.5 million in tourist spending.
What are the headline numbers travelers and planners should know?
- Global share: Mountain tourism is estimated at 9–16% of international arrivals, a range of ~195–375 million visitors in 2019 terms.
- Ski visitation (world): 366+ million skier visits in 2023/24, marking a third straight healthy post-pandemic season. 68 countries offer equipped outdoor ski areas with ~2,000 ski resorts.
- United States (ski): 61.5 million skier visits in 2024/25 (2nd-highest on record), after 60.4 million in 2023/24.
- Switzerland (mountain nation barometer): 42.8 million hotel overnight stays in 2024 — an all-time record.
How big is mountain tourism globally?
UN Tourism’s most recent methodology update (Andorra, 2024) synthesizes country reporting and sector inputs.
The result: mountains account for 9–16% of international arrivals, with regional ranges below.
Treat these as order-of-magnitude benchmarks for international travel; domestic mountain trips are often larger but less consistently measured.
Estimated share of international arrivals in mountain destinations (2019 baseline)
| Region | Share range | Implied arrivals range |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | 9–17% | 112–205 million |
| Americas | 9–17% | 35–70 million |
| Asia Pacific | 8–17% | 45–90 million |
| Africa | 6–11% | 4–8 million |
| Middle East | 2–5% | 2–5 million |
| Global | 9–16% | 195–375 million |
Source: UN Tourism/FAO “Understanding and Quantifying Mountain Tourism,” 2024 update.
What are people doing up high?
UN Tourism’s member survey highlights walking and hiking, nature and rural tourism, and winter sports as the most common purposes.
Mountains are year-round destinations: respondents most often cited summer as peak, but nearly one in five described all-year peaks.
How strong is the winter piece right now?
Two complementary lenses show a robust market.
- Global: The 2025 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism reports >366 million skier visits in 2023/24, with notable “best-ever” seasons in Italy and Chile, and continuing growth in China. The report also confirms 68 ski countries and roughly 2,000 resorts worldwide.
- United States: NSAA’s preliminary figures show 61.5 million visits in 2024/25 (second-highest ever), following 60.4 million in 2023/24 and the record 65.4 million in 2022/23.
Ski market at a glance
| Metric | Latest datapoint |
|---|---|
| Global skier visits | 366+ million (2023/24) |
| Countries with ski areas | 68 |
| Identified ski resorts | ~2,000 |
| U.S. skier visits | 61.5 million (2024/25); 60.4 million (2023/24) |
Which mountain destinations are surging in 2024–2025?
- The Alps: Switzerland set an all-time overnight-stays record in 2024 (42.8 million), driven by foreign demand. Austria’s winter 2023/24 booked 71.12 million overnights, up 2.6% year over year, with Tyrol and Salzburg accounting for more than half.
- Italy and Chile: The global snowsports report notes best-ever winter seasons in both countries in 2023/24.
- Himalaya, Nepal: Everest remains a bellwether. Nepal issued 421 Everest climbing permits in 2024 (down from 478 in 2023); lawmakers in 2025 proposed limiting Everest permits to climbers with experience on a 7,000-meter peak to improve safety.
When do mountain destinations peak?
In Europe, most regions peak in August, but mountain regions often buck the pattern.
Eurostat’s 2025 seasonality analysis shows February as the top month in Austria’s Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg — classic Alpine winter destinations.
Across the EU, one in six NUTS-2 regions sees 40%+ of annual nights in just its top two months.
Why do mountain stats matter beyond tourism?
Mountains cover about 27% of Earth’s land, are home to roughly 15% of the global population (about 1.1 billion people), and supply critical freshwater to billions downstream.
That means mountain tourism dollars intersect with water, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods — areas where policy and investment ripple far beyond the trailhead or ski lift.
What are the current risk and policy storylines?
- Safety and crowding at the world’s highest peaks: Nepal is moving to tighten Everest permitting to improve safety and reduce congestion at altitude.
- Climate variability: The 2025 international snow report finds the industry resilient at the global level, even as weather and snow drive year-to-year volatility by country. Resorts are investing in snow management, energy efficiency, and carbon plans to adapt.
- Seasonality management: Eurostat data underline sharp peaks in some regions, pushing destinations to spread demand into shoulder seasons with hiking, biking, culture, and wellness offers.
FAQ
How big is mountain tourism worldwide?
UN Tourism estimates 9–16% of international arrivals — roughly 195–375 million travelers, depending on method and region.
What is the latest number for global ski visits?
366+ million skier visits in 2023/24, per the 2025 global snow and mountain report press release.
Are U.S. ski visits still elevated?
Yes. 61.5 million visits in 2024/25 (second-highest on record) after 60.4 million in 2023/24.
Which Alpine countries are posting records?
Switzerland set a new hotel overnight record in 2024; Austria’s winter 2023/24 reached 71.12 million overnights.
Is policy changing in the Himalaya?
Nepal is advancing a bill to require prior 7,000-meter summit experience for Everest permits.
Sources
- UN Tourism / FAO — Understanding and Quantifying Mountain Tourism — Key Insights (Andorra 2024)
- Laurent Vanat / Mountain Planet — 2025 International Report on Snow & Mountain Tourism (press release)
- NSAA — U.S. Ski Industry Reports Data from 2024–25 Season
- Statistics Austria — Winter tourism 2023/24 exceeds previous year’s season with 71 million overnight stays
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office — New record in 2024 with almost 43 million overnight stays
- Eurostat — Tourism statistics: seasonality at regional level
- Reuters — Nepal plans to restrict Everest permits to experienced climbers
- Kathmandu Post — Climbers race for Everest permits before fees go up
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