France became the world’s top skiing destination in the 2011-2012 season, overtaking the US in terms of daily numbers, the French Ski Slopes Association, said last Tuesday.

French ski stations attracted 55.3 million visitors daily, up three per cent year-on-year, said Domaines Skiables de France (DSF).

The US, the traditional holder of the top position, saw a 15.8 per cent decline with 50.97 million clocked every day, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

Austria was in third place at 50 million, a two per cent slide.

France had lost its position as the world’s top ski destination three years ago.

DSF director general Laurent Reynaud hailed it as “good news” but underlined that it was lower than the figure of 58.5 million daily skiers clocked in 2008-2009.

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