To ski or not to ski?

France will need to step up if it is to retain its spot as the world’s top skiing destination and continue making mountain tourism a strategic asset for the country, says a report by Atout France.

While the French mountain tourism sector is attracting jobs - and producing economic benefits - it has succeeded in concealing a number of weaknesses, which could affect the country's status as one of the world's premier skiing destinations.

Most worryingly, over the last few years, the mountains of France have suffered a 20 percent decline in accommodation bookings.

According to the report, foreign tourists make up a significant portion of this decrease, with a whopping 35 percent less British tourists and 16 percent less Dutch travellers visiting the region in recent years.

Consolidating domestic visitation and diversifying international source markets will be a crucial step in the immediate future, says the report.