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Skiing should be possible despite Corona. For example, areas react with a reward system.
Summer tourism has shown the way: Many destinations advertise with promotions, offers or discounts in the warm season. For example, anyone who booked at least two nights at a hotel in the canton of Valais received a voucher of 100 francs, paid for by the canton.
With special discounts at the Jungfraujoch. There were already offers to attract guests in the summer.
Keystone
What summer tourism has done is now supposed to save winter tourism too. At least in some regions.
New reward system
To not only sell more seasonal subscriptions for the winter, but also to be able to help restaurants, hotels or sports stores, the “Magic Pass” now offers a point collection system. Those who consume, stay overnight or shop in more than 30 destinations in the cantons of Friborg, Vaud, Wallis, Neuchâtel and Bern receive points. These can be redeemed in the form of discounts. The “Magic Pass” includes Saas Fee, Glacier 3000, Les Diablerets, Leukerbad and Charmey.
Discount battle
Several ski areas are advertised with discounts. The Leysin (VD) area, which is also part of the “Magic Pass” network, also offers discounts of up to 50 percent on your own ski pass. The Matterhorn Zermatt (VS) ski area still offers a 20 percent discount on ski passes until the end of the month.
And the somewhat lower ski areas in Diemtigtal (BE) are also advertised with a pre-sale discount. Anyone who purchases a subscription to Diemtigtal, Wieriehorn or Grimmialp destinations before the end of November will receive a 10 percent discount and a discounted child ticket.
We don’t want more people on peak days.
Central Switzerland is taking a different route. Prices for subscribing to the network, in which 14 ski areas participate, deliberately remain the same as in the last four years, says Adrian Bühlmann, Managing Director of the Central Swiss Transport Association.
“The demand is basically there, people want to go to nature despite the Corona crisis.” If the snow pass were discounted, it would attract more people, but it is not recommended on peak days. “Especially during a pandemic, we would send the wrong signal with a low-price strategy,” says Bühlmann. On pleasant weekends it would be at the limit of capacity.
Great uncertainty
The Upper Valais has deliberately waited with advertising campaigns. The Oberwalliser ski pass, which includes 18 destinations, is available again. Failing to offer it was not an option, according to Oberwalliser Bergbahnen. Since there are still many doubts, the advertising campaign has been delayed.
The atmosphere under the cable cars is tense.
In general, there is great uncertainty among mountain railways, says Berno Stoffel, president of the Swiss Cable Car Association. The situation changes daily or weekly. “You worry,” says Stoffel. Especially with the larger establishments that can hardly count on guests from abroad.
Small and medium-sized ski areas could expect that, as in summer, guests from the region and Switzerland will also come in winter. The Swiss would not be able to go on vacation because of the heat, says Stefan Reichmuth of Arosa Bergbahnen. “We hope they want some fresh air, in the mountains, in the sun again.” Arosa will be able to benefit from this.
