EANS-Adhoc: Jungfraubahn Holding AG
Jungfrau Railway achieves guest record
04.01.2012 – 07:03
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 04.01.2012 More guests visited the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe in 2011 than ever before. 765,000 people travelled by Jungfrau Railway to Europe´s highest-altitude railway station, achieving an increase of 13.8 per cent on the previous year. Business segment Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe In 2011, the Jungfrau Railway Group carried 765,000 visitors to the Jungfraujoch, setting a new record. The increase is down to business with Asian guests. The Jungfrau Railway Group´s strategy of global marketing has borne fruit. This has also been helped by the value of the Euro, which dropped against major Asian currencies after the financial and economic crises. Travel to Europe became generally less expensive for Asian guests and so the strong franc was of no importance. The tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan had little effect on the number of travellers to the Jungfraujoch. Business segment winter sport While excursion traffic in 2011 gained strength, the winter sport business was more restrained. Between 1 January and 31 December 2011, the Jungfrau Ski Region, in which the Jungfrau Railway Group holds a 60 per cent revenue share, recorded 1,073,000 skier visits. The reduction in comparison to the preceding year was 10.6 per cent. Higher temperatures and lack of snow meant that it was not possible to start the 2011/2012 winter season until 17 December 2011, three weeks later than the previous year. Nevertheless, winter-sport guests have been able to enjoy excellent piste conditions over the Christmas holiday period. Business segment experience mountains The Jungfrau Railway Group also achieved excellent frequencies in the experience mountains business segment, which includes excursion traffic to the Harder Kulm, First and Winteregg-Mürren. Compared to the previous year, the Harder Railway recorded an increase of 15.3 per cent, the First Aerial Cableway a reduction of 5.8 per cent. The Mürren Rail & Cableway carried 0.2 per cent fewer guests than the previous year. Preview In view of the strong Swiss franc, the Jungfrau Railway Group anticipates that the 2011/2012 winter season will present a challenge. It expects that fewer guests from Euro zone countries will travel to the Jungfrau Ski Region for winter sport. However, optimism is justified as the Jungfrau Railway celebrates its centenary in 2012 and over 80 special offers and events are planned for this anniversary. The Jungfrau Railway Group is convinced that the centenary will create worldwide interest and so additional guests will be able to be welcomed. Passenger frequency Passenger frequency Variation 2011 2010 in per cent Jungfrau Railway 765,000 672,000 +13.8% (Jungfraujoch arr.) Grindelwald-First 440,000 467,000 -5.8% (from valley) Mürren Rail & Cableway 545,000 546,000 -0.2% (total frequency) Harder Railway 171,400 148,700 +15.3% (total frequency) Skier visits Skier visits Variation 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2011 1.1.2010 - 2.1.2010 in per cent Jungfrau Ski Region 1,073,000 1,200,000 -10.6% Skier visits Skier visits Variation Season start - 2.1.2012 Season start - 2.1.2011 in per cent Jungfrau Ski Region 132,000 206,000 -35.9% Further inquiry note: Urs Kessler, CEO +41 (0)79 407 90 52 end of announcement euro adhoc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- issuer: Jungfraubahn Holding AG Harderstrasse 14 CH-3800 Interlaken phone: +41 (0)33 828 71 11 FAX: +41 (0)33 828 72 64 mail: jb@jungfraubahn.ch WWW: www.jungfraubahn.ch sector: Railway ISIN: CH0017875789 indexes: SPI stockmarkets: Domestic Standard: SIX Swiss Exchange language: English