Indoor skiing boom draws HK travellers

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

An increasing number of travelers from Hong Kong and Macau are visiting indoor ski centers in Guangdong, with Bonski reporting that up to 30 percent of its Guangzhou visitors come from these regions due to a lack of local facilities. This surge reflects broader growth in China's winter sports market, which continues to expand following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and is attracting significant investment and consumer interest.

A growing number of travelers from Hong Kong and Macau are visiting indoor ski centers in Guangdong province, reflecting the rapid expansion of winter sports facilities across mainland China. Bonski, an indoor ski resort operator, reported that 20 to 30 percent of visitors to its Guangzhou location now come from these two regions as the company continues to see increased demand.

“Most visitors to indoor ski venues are local residents, and we have seen steady inflows of customers from Hong Kong and Macau,” said Liu Wensheng, president of Bonski. He noted that skiing has a relatively high participation rate in these areas, with many residents possessing strong skills. However, the absence of indoor ski facilities in their home cities drives them to travel to the mainland. Liu also highlighted that this trend aligns with a broader pattern of Hongkongers traveling to the mainland for leisure and shopping purposes.

Bonski currently operates 11 indoor ski venues across China and is developing four additional sites to meet rising demand. The company believes the country’s winter sports market holds significant growth potential, fueled in part by the surge in interest following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

According to a recent report by research firm Asia Digital Group, China’s ice and snow industry reached a market value exceeding 1 trillion yuan (approximately HK$1.1 trillion) last year. The report also noted that Chinese consumers took 67.3 million ski trips during the 2025-2026 season, marking a 22.8 percent increase compared to the 2023-2024 season.

This growing enthusiasm for winter sports is bolstering confidence among ski equipment suppliers. TechnoAlpin, an Italian manufacturer of snow-making systems that supplies 90 percent of the country’s large-scale ski resorts, expressed optimism about the upcoming winter season. The company holds over 50 percent of the Chinese market and has established three subsidiaries in Hebei and Liaoning provinces.

“While Europe remains our main market with a more mature sector, China represents a rapidly growing and key market we aim to develop further,” said Sunny Shen, China marketing director at TechnoAlpin. Shen emphasized the considerable growth potential, noting that the proportion of Chinese participants in skiing and ice skating remains relatively low nationwide despite recent gains.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.