[ad_1]
Winter tourism must be prepared for a season without the classic après-ski. There is a green light for the Christmas markets. The Governor of Tyrol lamented the events in Ischgl.
The federal government today gave an outlook on winter tourism and got guests and hosts in the mood for a ski vacation with less foam. “Skiing fun, yes, but without après-ski,” said Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP). Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) made it clear that food and drinks should also be consumed outdoors while sitting.
There will not be a maximum number of people per gondola in the future. The only requirement here is a mask as in public transport. However, when queuing, a minimum distance of one meter must be maintained. A maximum group size of ten people applies at ski schools, but this is only a recommendation. It is also recommended to avoid mixing and changing groups. There will be free corona trials for ski instructors.
The press conference opened briefly Thursday morning with the note that many people did not believe “that the number of infections is too high.” “We have to stop growth,” said the chancellor, who again referred to the federal capital, Vienna. It is not only about the health of the population, but also about employment. Kurz testified to the Austrian population that tourism is “part of our identity.”
Hygiene concept for Christmas markets
Köstinger assured that Christmas markets will be held. For this, a concept of prevention and hygiene must be developed.
The Tourism Minister emphasized on Thursday that winter tourism is much more than winter sports. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Harald Mahrer, also agreed. Tyrolean Governor Günther Platter (ÖVP) emphasized that tourism should be seen as a whole and not a small part of night tourism should endanger the entire industry.
Source: “I’m sorry, I’m very sorry”
Platter also regretted that so many people caught après-ski in Ischgl at the beginning of the crown crisis. “I’m very sorry,” Platter said Thursday when asked by a German journalist why he found it so difficult to use the word excuse in this context.
At the same time, however, Platter defended his status, saying that the virus did not originate in Ischgl, but was brought to Austria from abroad. “In a pandemic, one person cannot take the blame,” Platter said.
Anschober expects the measures to “come into force” from October
“Security and tourism are well compatible,” said Health Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) at the press conference. From his point of view, it is particularly important for the tourism industry itself to understand that a lot of attention must be paid to safety, the minister said.
Above all, the safe consumption of food and beverages, both indoors and outdoors, is an essential part of the solution, according to Anschober. The Minister of Health assumes that the measures will have broad support from the tourism industry. However, there will be random checks to see if the rules are being followed, so Anschober. However, controls alone would not be enough: to reduce the number of infections, not only measures are needed, but “all are needed. We are all part of the solution,” said the Minister of Health. He was impressed by the amount of suggestions for prevention that had come from the tourism representatives themselves, Abschober said, and praised the cooperation with the industry representatives.
However, awareness of all risks must continue to increase. Anschober hopes that the measures taken by the government to reduce the number of corona infections will take effect from the first half of October.
Schellhorn: “You fell asleep, like everything else.”
In light of the growing number of travel advisories for western federal states and federal government announcements for winter tourism, Neos economic spokesman Sepp Schellhorn warned Thursday of the consequences for tourism companies: “These are dramatic numbers yet to come. ” Schellehorn complained that there was no government counter-strategy: “You missed that, like everything else.”
Above all, the Vorarlberg companies would now be in a situation as before the end of March. This also applies to their own Salzburg companies, as Wednesday was the first day since the end of March without a single booking request. The forecast is, therefore, clear: “Winter tourism will have the same fate as urban tourism.” The round of travel warnings was caused by Austria itself, as it once got under way. The problem is that tourism consists mainly of psychology. “And the only psychology that Mr. Kurz has mastered is ‘me’ and ‘election campaign,'” Schellhorn said.
The SPÖ member of the National Council, Thomas Drozda, also criticized the federal government in this context, as it would have had time to prepare for the situation all summer: “But there were messes and tinkering.” This is not a political change for the opposition: “I am the happiest person when this problem is solved.” The FPÖ considers the government’s concept of winter tourism to be nebulous. “These ads are neither fish nor meat and are ‘not net measures,'” liberal tourism spokesman Gerald Hauser criticized in a broadcast.
(APA / Red.)
