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Mountain Peoples Are Trying To Secure The Crown, But They Worry About Christmas
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Several regions are urging visitors to cancel their winter trips.
At the same time, planning is in full swing both in Swedish ski destinations and abroad.
– If you travel to the Alps, there won’t be a big difference to being at home when it comes to restrictions, says Johan Edsler of Lion Alpin.
Earlier this week, several regions raised concerns about the upcoming winter season and mountain tourism, and many are bracing for increased care pressure.
Among other things, the Norrbotten region, which has gone from staff to emergency due to the increasing spread of the infection, is asking tourists to postpone the trip to the mountain.
– The mountain world in Norrbotten will remain, regional director Anna-Stina Nordmark Nilsson tells TT.
“Don’t come here”
Anders Nystedt, the region’s infection control physician, also expects people to stay home this winter.
– There are reasons to say: Don’t come here! Everyone in Sweden must understand that 2020 is a shitty year. It’s a very boring year, he tells Expressen.
Photo: Ola Matsson
Swedish and foreign ski destinations are fully planning for the winter season.
The Västerbotten region also wants unnecessary travel in and out of the county to be avoided until December 8. A call that will likely be extended, according to health director Brita Winsa.
But despite the tighter restrictions and the attractiveness of the regions, it appears that there will be plenty of ski-hungry visitors on the slopes of Jämtland and Härjedalen.
– We know that it is full in principle at Christmas and New Years. There are fewer bookings in the weeks when we normally receive a lot of Norwegians, but then it is almost full during sports holidays again, says director of health and medical care Maria Söderkvist to TT, adding that the region is therefore preparing fully for activity this winter.
– We do everything we can to make sure it works, regardless of whether a lot of people come or not.
Photo: Pontus Lundahl / TT
The express saddle in Sadelbackarna on the Åre ski system.
“The situation is serious”
Titti Rodling, CEO of the industry organization SLAO, the Swedish ski resort organization, says that every effort is being made to create ski resorts that are as safe as possible.
However, he points out that it is not skiing that is considered to contribute to the spread of infection, but rather ski-related activities that need to be protected.
Examples of measures that have been implemented include more outdoor dining areas, no après ski, delivery of rental equipment, hatch kiosks instead of indoor cafes and lower opening hours for lifts.
Skis: seen a change
Petra Hallebrant, Skistar’s public relations and communications manager, tells Aftonbladet that they have seen a change in the reserve situation now compared to earlier this fall.
– During Christmas and New Years, there are often a lot of people in the mountains and we will probably see a different Christmas this year, both in terms of reduced number of visitors and considering the situation of the crown. We also know that Norwegian guests who have their own cabins in our destinations will not come here while the Norwegian border is closed.
Petra Hallebrant points out, however, that the most common lodging option is in a cabin or apartment, with friends and family, and that most of the time is spent hopefully on the ski slopes.
Planning for different scenarios
At the same time, he adds that every effort is made to ensure that guests and employees enjoy a safe and secure ski stay.
– We are planning different scenarios this winter and we relate to the recommendations of the authorities, we have a permanent dialogue with FHM, health, industry and the rescue service in our ski resorts.
– It involves a series of precautionary measures, such as asking for a distance of the length of the bar in the tail of the elevator, the number of places in the heating cabins, the digital check-in and check-out of the accommodation, and that you can keep track of elevator queues in our app, says Petra Hallebrant.
Riksgränsen: closed until February
Also in Riksgränsen, several measures have been taken before the weekends.
– We have closed our hotel, restaurant and bar until February 12, so at this time only the rural town is open, says Marketing Manager Christophe Risenius.
The winter season itself has also been postponed and the reserve pressure is lower than usual.
– Until March, April and May, we have a fairly good occupancy, but not the same usual capacity.
Lion Alpin: Definitely more careful
According to Johan Edsler, sales manager for Lion Alpin, which organizes ski trips to Austria and Italy, among other places, some cancellations have been noted in connection with the spread of the infection.
Photo: Halvard Alvik / TT
If you’re traveling to the Alps, it won’t make much of a difference being home, according to Lion Alpine sales manager Johan Edsler.
– It was not the case that we noticed a wave of cancellations just because the Public Health Agency tightened the restrictions, but people are clearly more careful, there is nothing to stay under a chair.
He estimates that just over 20-30 percent have canceled their Christmas trips, slightly less over the New Year, but adds that the target groups differ:
– During Christmas, there are more families who go, while during the New Year there are more couples and groups of friends.
There is not much difference at home
Edsler says Sweden’s new restrictions are in line with the way foreign destinations handle the infection, all so that they can open when the season starts in earnest.
– In Austria, there is a closure until December 6, which means that there are no hotels, restaurants or elevators open at the moment. Sweden’s new restrictions are more similar to those that have been applied in other parts of Europe. So if you’re traveling to the Alps, it won’t make much difference to be home.
He also says that destinations have gone the extra mile to secure the crown’s meeting places.
– The Alps that were the winter of 2019/2020 cannot be compared with what will be 2020/2021. There is no après ski as we know it, but of course you can have a drink after a long day, but there will be table service and buffets will be eliminated.
Mouth guard in the elevator
– Austria in particular has gone the extra mile given the disgraced reputation it received earlier this year. This is something that you really do not want to repeat.
According to Johan Edsler, requirements for mouth protection are now also being introduced in various places in elevator queues and in car lifts.
– You will get a ski compatible mouth guard in most places. Then it won’t be as usual, but drastically different.
Johan Edsler is very positive about the fact that several candidate vaccines are now being presented:
– It gives us hope for the next season. Although Christmas and New Years at the moment seem a bit dark, we hope that the sports holidays, and also the Easter holidays, can be a little better.
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