Do low-priced ski pass owners perceive a higher quality of life? A case study of the Leisure Card Tirol

Abstract

Objectives: The study investigated a potential correlation between owning a superregional low-cost ski and leisure card, namely the Leisure Card Tirol (LCT), and perceived quality of life (QOL).

Design: A cross-sectional, quantitative approach (online questionnaire) was chosen.

Methods: In total, 1588 LCT users as well as 684 non-users (residents living in the Alpine region of Tyrol, Austria) were reached throughout the study period.

Results: Compared to non-users, LCT users reported significantly higher scores in all domains of QOL. However, the correlation was neither mediated nor moderated by the level of general physical activity (in contrast to alpine skiing in particular).

Conclusions: As superregional low-cost leisure cards were suggested as a way of facilitating access to skiing-at least according to its buyers-owning the LCT was associated with higher perceived QOL. Subsequent research should elaborate the extent to which this correlation is causal. If there is a causal link, such cards should be actively promoted to improve/maintain residents' QOL.

Keywords: Leisure activities; Leisure card; Physical activity; Quality of life; Ski tickets; Skiing.