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Dangerous source of virus or safe thanks to protection concept? A dispute over skiing breaks out in Europe. Photo: trapezoidal
European politicians want to close ski areas: is Switzerland threatened with “huge damage”?
Italy, France and Germany want to delay the start of the winter season for weeks due to Corona. Austria is fighting back, and Swiss politicians are warning of “irreparable” damage.
The “ski war” has broken out, at least according to the German newspaper “Bild”. It all started with a request from Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. He wants to postpone the start of the winter season at the European level, until at least mid-January. ‘You can’t afford a winter vacation. We cannot afford that, “he told the station” La 7 “on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron agreed with him: it was “impossible” to open the ski areas during the holidays. Several media report that Italy, France and Germany want to establish a coordinated European calendar.
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder had already voiced his support: Anyone going skiing in risky areas must be quarantined for ten days, he said. I would prefer a uniform arrangement: “There are no open lifts anywhere and no holidays anywhere.”
The federal government looks abroad
This approach would also affect the Alpine countries. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz objected on Wednesday: his country would decide independently on the opening.
Austria wants to decide on its own ski tourism: Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on November 25, 2020. Image: keystone
In talks with the President of the EU Council and the Commission, he agreed that this “is not an issue in which the EU should interfere,” he said. Finance Minister Gernort Blümel had previously demanded billions in compensation from the EU if the ski lifts stopped at Christmas.
Official Switzerland is still waiting. The Federal Office of Public Health has been in contact with several countries for a long time on this issue and currently maintains these contacts, says a spokesperson. Follow the development carefully. “At the moment” there are no plans to close the ski areas.
Graubünden warns of bankruptcies
Marcus Caduff, economic director of the canton of Graubünden, speaks out against the plans. He warns: If the ski areas actually closed at Christmas, “the damage would be enormous and often irreparable.”
In the side valleys in particular, the economic consequences can no longer be reversed, Caduff said. “I suppose a lot of mountain railways would go out of business.”
The days from Christmas to New Year would represent around a third of the annual turnover of the railways and mountain restaurants. Caduff doubts that closing the ski resorts will help against the virus. People wanted to get out of the cities and into the mountains in winter anyway.
If the masses are not allowed to ski, there will be crowds in the shops and towns. “That wouldn’t help anyone.” They have very good protection concepts that are currently being tested in glaciers and with which we have “very good experiences”.
“Switzerland is an independent country”
Jürg Schmid, president of Graubünden Ferien, suggests the same: “It would not be justified not to let the season unfold,” he says. Safe operation is possible, also thanks to strict protection concepts on tracks and mountain railways. So there is little to be gained from Italian ideas.
Schmid doesn’t think Switzerland could come under pressure if the start of the season is postponed around them. “Switzerland is an independent country.” The Federal Office of Public Health must and will decide independently. “The Grisons winter tourism will strictly adhere to it.”
“People go skiing in Valais”
The politicians of the Valais had already found strong tones. State Councilor Christophe Darbellay (CVP) told “Walliser Bote”: “In Valais, people ski during the festive season and eat in restaurants, no matter what Italy does.” Switzerland is not in the EU and therefore is not affected. The situation of the crown in Valais improves day by day. Not everything will be possible, but Valais will be able to offer guests a minimal program. “The winter season will start in an orderly fashion.”
Markus Häsler, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen, told the newspaper that the Italian advance was a “bubble of fresh air.” The EU could do whatever it wanted, but Switzerland would “never, ever accept it.” However, it seems open whether Switzerland could oppose a coordinated European approach in view of the still higher than average number of corona cases.
If Swiss ski areas were the only ones open, they would have a unique selling point. However, European countries could issue travel advisories for Switzerland or impose a quarantine obligation, with noticeable effects on the number of foreign tourists. For once, Swiss tourism professionals should hope that Austria prevails. (bzbasel.ch)
