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France, Italy and Germany do not want to open their ski areas until January. Swiss tourism is not affected by this.
Because skiing takes place outdoors, Swiss ski areas assume it will be safe. – as long as winter sports enthusiasts adhere to safety measures.
Keystone
Absence ofIn the dispute over a partial closure of the ski resorts in neighboring countries, Swiss tourism could emerge as the third of the laugh. While France, Italy and Germany are pushing for no ski tourism to take place in Europe in mid-January, the local industry is still waiting which can open the winter season on time.
“The Swiss style is correct”
A coordinated season-opening across Europe of winter sports areas was informally discussed among Alpine countries in late summer and was not deemed inappropriate, he says. Tourism in Switzerland. “Therefore, we assume that this approach will no longer be successful,” says Markus Berger, spokesman. the marketing organization. Federal Council, authorities and tourismregions they are “convinced that the Swiss style is right for the moment”.
Urs Zurbriggen, Leukerbad Director of Tourism, gives a reason for the appearance of self-confidence towards neighboring countries: “Skiing is mainly done outdoors.” In combination with the protective measures – mandatory mask at all facilities and when queuing, as well as the distance rules – a safe winter season can therefore take place.
Great skepticism in Berlin
With its position, Switzerland runs the risk of causing discontent in its large neighboring countries of the European Union. Austria is experiencing this precisely because Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also wants to open the ski areas before Christmas. This approach does not suit Germany, for example.
Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported to have literally said in her conference with the prime ministers of the German federal states that she was “concerned” when she learned that Austria wanted to use the ski lifts again.
According to information from Reuters, the chancellor and the minister want to call on all citizens to refrain from making tourist trips abroad, especially with regard to the ski season.
It is quite possible that Switzerland, on its own, will benefit from the European blockade of the ski slopes. Leukerbad for example Recorded on average 15 percent of guests from neighboring European countries. “Whether guests from Germany and France travel to Switzerland due to closed areas in their own country is highly dependent on inbound and return travel regulations,” says Zurbriggen.
“In Valais, people ski during the festive season”
There is support from the cantonal government. “In Valais, people ski and eat in restaurants during the festive season,, what Italy is doing, “CVP State Councilor Christophe Darbellay told the” Walliser Bote. “
Local tourism is supported by the Swiss Confederation. “When it comes to closing the ski areas, this is not currently planned,” says the Federal Office of Public Health. As the authority’s spokesman, Daniel Dauwalder, says, the office has been exchanging views with other countries with a view to the pandemic for a long time and also maintains these contacts today.
The Federal Council addressed the issue at its meeting on Wednesday. Health Minister Alain Berset later pointed out that the cantons were being discussed.
In the summer, Berset, as head of the Federal Office of Public Health, called for international action to be taken in ski areas to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The magistrate wanted to avoid distorting competition between countries and regions.
too Parliamentarians yesAnd I do not agreethe extent to which our country must coordinate with neighboring states. “Switzerland must ensure that it participates in these conversations, that it can represent its point of view there and then support the compromise that has been reached,” says the Basel SP National Councilor, Eric Nussbaumer, president of the new one.north Europeannorth Swiss movement.
Graubünden CVP National Councilor Martin Candinas is opposed to this. Switzerland must go its own way and “take nothing from the EU”. The winter sports resorts have invested a lot of money to allow a safe winter season in the context of the decrease in the number of infections. Therefore, the Federal Council must “resist any pressure from Brussels”.
France announces easing
France doesn’t want to open the ski slopes until January, when the number of infections has dropped significantly by then. On Tuesday night, President Emanuel Macron announced that he would coordinate the matter with European neighbors.
Italy goes one step further and demands a coordinated postponement of the winter sports season in all European Alpine countries. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte wants to keep ski areas closed until at least January 10 in light of the corona pandemic.
