Back to lock light: skiing possible since Christmas – Coronavirus Vienna

Last week there was “an emotional debate on winter tourism in Austria,” the minister said, with a view to moving Italy and Germany to keep ski areas and ski lifts closed across Europe until well into January. “We are the number one nation in skiers, the slopes are being prepared. Many people want sport and relaxation,” Köstinger told a press conference.

Since hotels and restaurants remain closed, skiing will likely be reserved primarily for locals or hikers. Those arriving from a corona risk area like Germany or Italy must be quarantined for ten days, but can dispose of it after five days with a negative PCR test.

“We try to be very careful with the additional opening steps,” the minister said. Après-ski will only take place in a scaled-down version of the crown-related delayed start of the winter season in January 2021 – food and beverages can only be consumed outdoors, even while sitting. In this sense, nothing has changed in the official requirements since autumn. What’s new, though, is that there won’t be any more Christmas markets or punch stands after all.

Until the gastronomy is allowed to reopen, food and drinks can be picked up, “with the exception of open drinks,” Köstinger emphasized. “That will no longer be possible in the future, especially the Christmas markets are incompatible with the infection situation and must also be closed.”

According to the information, the safety concept for ropeways is also being refined. “We will make a capacity restriction for closed cabs,” announced Köstinger. The number of passengers “will be reduced to 50 percent,” he said when asked.

To support businesses that have been hit hard financially by all these measures, the government’s relief efforts will continue. Sales compensation for businesses was extended through December 31 (previously: December 6), but was also reduced. Instead of up to 80 percent, there is only 50 percent of the billing for the corresponding month from the previous budget year. Short hours, fixed cost subsidies, and take-out and delivery income are not compensated.

“Replacing the December sales (from December 7 to 31, keep in mind) will cost the state around an additional billion,” Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) said at the joint press conference with Köstinger and the Minister of Education, Heinz Faßmann (also ÖVP). However, it must be requested again, so it does not proceed automatically. “The sales surrogate offers companies the opportunity to have the necessary liquidity,” said Köstinger. “The extended fixed cost subsidy is available to cover running costs.”

The reduced working hours from November to the end of December were also extended for all closed sectors. One third of all short-time work in Austria is attributed to tourism and gastronomy. In this area alone, more than 20,000 applications have already been processed and 540 million euros have been disbursed. “For us in Austria, winter tourism is an important economic factor,” emphasized the minister.

“We have to assume that the winter season will be very, very difficult,” said the tourism minister. He highlighted the importance of massive tests until Christmas, with which “the largest possible number of infected people must be found in order to make safe unlocking possible.” Köstinger urged him to participate in these massive crown tests. “The corona pandemic will keep us firmly in check for the next several months.”

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