| With ski holidays increasing in popularity over the last | | | | in Andorra and spending money in the country |
| twenty years, Andorra has been increasing her visitor | | | | second thoughts. The Andorra authorities know that |
| numbers to over ten million per annum for ski | | | | they can't start introducing personal income tax |
| holidays and happily investing for the future to ensure | | | | because that really would kill the goose that lays the |
| she remains as one of Europe's top ski destinations | | | | golden egg. Take away Andorra's ski industry and |
| but that came to a screeching halt this year when | | | | the country's in trouble - take away her tax haven |
| the one thing a ski destination really needs didn't | | | | status too and it would decimate her economy.' |
| arrive - snow. | | | | Andorra has invested heavily in new infrastructure |
| The Andorra authorities are hoping that the lack of | | | | and facilities for the ski tourist in recent years, which |
| snow which kept so many regular visitors as well as | | | | would make a second successive poor season |
| new ones away this year is a one off, and that | | | | particularly hard to bear. |
| snow in November will mean a normal level of | | | | This year Andorra opened a new family friendly ski |
| bookings for the new 2007/8 season. | | | | park in Arinsal, moving away further still from her old |
| But if this year is a sign of things to come for the | | | | image of a cheap and cheerful ski holiday for 18-30 |
| European ski industry as a result of global warming, | | | | year olds to one that caters well for all. The snow |
| Andorra is considering a future with little snow, and | | | | park includes a conveyor belt and a game zone, |
| having to diversify. | | | | designed to give children confidence before they ski |
| Andorra is a tax free country, and benefits from high | | | | and use the chair lifts. |
| employment in the financial services and banking | | | | Well known ski villages in Andorra include Soldeu, |
| sectors, but reports from the country suggest that | | | | Ordino as well as Arinsal. |
| revenue raising via a new corporate tax is being | | | | Other new developments in Andorra for the 2007 ski |
| considered. But according to a local travel guide for | | | | season included a 540 space underground car park in |
| Andorra this is unlikely. | | | | La Massana close to the cable car, and an extension |
| 'Introducing a corporation tax could be | | | | of the beginners area in Arinsal. |
| counter-productive as a revenue raiser, they say. | | | | Commenting on the new facilities, the travel guide for |
| Continuing 'Andorra is along with Monaco Europe's | | | | Andorra claims that should the snow levels return to |
| most complete tax haven, and it would give high net | | | | normal it will allow Andorra to compete with other ski |
| worth individuals who would be looking for residency | | | | areas in Europe for the future. |