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Chancellor Merkel wants to keep ski areas in Europe closed due to the Crown crisis, but she faces resistance from Austria and Switzerland. German elevator operators are also warning of major losses. France is opting for a different solution.
In view of the upcoming ski season, a discussion about winter sports has broken out in the Corona crisis. Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out in favor of closing all ski areas in Europe in view of the winter holidays: “We will work hard in Europe to reach a vote on whether we can close all ski areas,” Merkel said at the Bundestag. “Unfortunately, when you hear the announcements from Austria, it doesn’t seem like we can do it that easily, but we will try again.”
Austria rejects the claim
Due to the pandemic, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had proposed that the ski areas be closed until at least January 10, sparking a dispute between the Alpine countries.
The Austrian government is vehemently opposed to the closure of ski areas across Europe and rejects Merkel’s request. “I can’t get anything out of this company,” Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger told “Spiegel.” There is no legal basis for regulation at the EU level. “We also do not give France any advice on when the Louvre can be reopened. Nor do we prescribe to Italy or Germany when they can reopen cafes, restaurants or schools,” said politician ÖVP. “Holidays in Austria are safe.”
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz had already spoken out against a Europe-wide shutdown on Wednesday. “That is always related to the number of infections, that is, the number of infections here in Austria,” Kurz said. “When someone uses an elevator, it is similar to when they use public transportation.” Decisions must be made on the basis of these aspects.
Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel had demanded billions of compensation from the EU if the ski lifts were to close over the Christmas holidays. As a result, Austria expects a loss of sales of 800 million euros for each week of holidays.
Switzerland also against closure
The resistance also came from Switzerland: “In Switzerland, the Federal Council, the authorities and the tourism industry are convinced that the Swiss way, for the moment, is the right one and that the winter season can pass safely”, said Markus Berger, spokesman for Swiss Tourism. The issue is not new. “The approach of a Europe-wide coordinated operating time / season opening of winter sports destinations was informally discussed in the Alpine countries as early as late summer and was not deemed inappropriate,” Berger said. “We assume that this approach will also not be successful now.”
In Switzerland, German vacationers are immensely important to the ski season. Of the 7.8 million guests in the 2018/2019 winter season, almost ten percent came from Germany. The situation is similar in Austria.
Söder supports the advance from Italy
But German elevator operators are also opposing Merkel’s initiative: a ban on winter sports would be catastrophic and incomprehensible for the affected regions, said Matthias Stauch, a board member of the Association of German Cable Cars (VDS). A ban on winter sports would threaten the existence of many operators. Elevator operators demand uniform regulation, Strauch said. “There has to be a European solution.”
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, on the other hand, supports the Italian push to close ski areas. In Bavaria, the ski lifts, cable cars and associated restaurants cannot open during closing anyway. Anyone traveling to a risk zone, which is currently classified as the Alpine countries of Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, must be quarantined for ten days upon returning to Bavaria. According to the State Chancellery, the Bavarian cabinet decided that. The new regulation will also apply to hikers from December; an exemption that was still in effect will no longer apply as of December.
France: open ski areas, closed lifts
Meanwhile, France’s ski lifts should close during the festive season, but winter sports resorts should be open. “Of course it will be possible for everyone … to go to the resorts to enjoy the pure air of our beautiful mountains, the shops that will be open, except for bars and restaurants,” said Prime Minister Jean Castex. . But it is very simple: “All lifts and public facilities will be closed to the public.”
