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(dpa) Measures from Munich, Berlin or Brussels: a red rag for Austria and Switzerland, this also applies in the Corona winter: the call to keep the ski areas closed during Christmas and New Years outraged many in the Alpine countries. You don’t want to spoil the Christmas business with winter tourists, even if the number of infections in both countries is currently significantly higher than in Germany, for example. Italy and France are also not in favor of opening the ski areas until January.
“Switzerland is skiing. Of course! »Says an advertising campaign that is also aimed at guests from abroad. Some high-altitude ski areas are already open, for example in St. Moritz, Davos and Zermatt. Also in Austria, the ski cannons are already working at full speed in some places. In the Zillertal, St. Johann in Tirol and St. Anton am Arlberg ski areas, the season should start in the next two weeks according to current plans. The Vienna government refuses to interfere. Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that the country will decide for itself whether to open the ski areas.
The president of the Swiss Cable Car Association, Hans Wicki, feels pressure from outside. “You have to be calm and collected to get over it,” he radioed. Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel threatened with monetary claims. “If the EU imposes a requirement that ski areas must remain closed, we expect compensation payments,” he told “Die Welt” newspaper (Saturday). Winter sports are a major industry in these countries with thousands of jobs. The Christmas holidays are high season.
In the Swiss canton of Valais they want to attract French skiers with a special offer: “We are planning a bus operation that picks up skiers from the French part of the Portes du Soleil”, the head of the Swiss part announced on the radio from the ski area, Enrique Caballero. to. Ski areas, mountain railways, and winter sports providers also target foreign guests with an interactive website. Those interested can see which ski areas limit the number of guests in the gondolas, where additional terrace spaces have been created in mountain restaurants or where mountain trips can be booked online in advance.
The majority of people in Germany are in favor of closing ski resorts to contain the pandemic. In a poll conducted by opinion research institute Civey on behalf of “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Saturday), 73.8 percent said a shutdown was “clear” or “fairly correct.” 19.5 percent of respondents considered this to be “somewhat” or “clearly wrong”.
Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel came out in favor of closing all ski areas in Europe in view of the winter holidays. Opponents of Christmas skiing are warning about Ischgl, the Austrian ski resort said to have contributed significantly to the spread of the virus in Europe in the spring.
“Politicians talk about wanting to avoid a second Ischgl,” says the managing director of the Corvatsch, Diavolezza and Lagalb ski areas, Markus Moser, of the daily “Blick”. But that is not fair, infections did not occur in sports, but in après-ski. The happy party after a day on the slopes should be taboo this year: “The pleasure of skiing, yes, but without après-ski”, announced the Chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz.
Ischgl wants to open up: “Good thing you don’t have to wait long for all this, because on December 17, 2020 the time will finally come: the first day of skiing at the Silvretta Arena in Ischgl is on the agenda!” Ski resort website.
The snowy Engadine region attracts a very prominent visitor: “Ms Merkel, you are safe with us!” was the headline of the tabloid “Blick” on Saturday, combined with a charming offensive from Pontresina, where Merkel has regularly practiced cross-country skiing in winter for years. “Ms Merkel need not be afraid,” said hotelier Thomas Walther. “Our hygiene concepts have proven themselves since the summer. You probably live much more dangerously in Berlin! “Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset does not want to miss out on the fun of skiing. He would like to hit the slopes, he said on television.” But at a distance, mask and hand hygiene. “
