The Obwalden, Nidwalden and Uri ski areas can be reopened from December 30, in Schwyz everything will be closed until January 8

Where can you go on the slopes and where not? Different rules will apply soon in Central Switzerland.

Image: Urs Flüeler / Keystone

The ski regions of Central Switzerland are facing a difficult winter. Due to the spread of the corona virus, these were closed for Christmas. At the same time, the cantons decided to carry out a new assessment of the situation the week before.

So the governing councils of the Canton of Obwalden and Nidwalden now he decided to reopen the ski areas as of December 30. This is what governments write in their communications. The situation in relation to the Covid 19 pandemic has stabilized and the necessary conditions are now in place. With regard to hospital capacity, the situation has eased, especially at Obwalden Cantonal Hospital. “The safety of medical care is guaranteed,” says the message. Obwalden government adviser Maya Büchi-Kaiser says: “I am pleased that the situation has developed positively and that I go back to skiing in Obwalden.” Her Nidwalden counterpart, Michèle Blöchliger, also highlights that the situation remains delicate. She says:

“We will continually reassess the situation and are in regular contact with the operators of the ski areas.”

There are also requirements to follow for the ski areas in both cantons. For example, the authorities establish capacity limits for the ski operation based on the first entries per day. In addition, there is only a limited supply of catering in the form of take away food. Restaurateurs cannot serve alcohol. The government continues to ask the public to know the current situation and capacity utilization before visiting a ski area.

Uri opens, Schwyz stays closed

Also in Kanton Uri Soon you will be able to go back to skiing and snowboarding. For example, the government council commissioned the health, social and environmental directorate to grant the Uri ski areas the operating license as of December 30. As in the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden, permission is also given here. So if the epidemiological situation worsens, for example, if the burden for hospitals increases again, the canton of Uri will reassess the situation. At the most, it could take back the permissions again.

At Uri, too, operating licenses are associated with capacity restrictions. For example, the Andermatt-Sedrun ski area has a maximum number of 8,000 visitors per day. This determination was made after consultation with the canton of Graubünden.

the Canton of Schwyz meanwhile it has decided to extend the ban. The governing council announced on Monday that ski areas would remain closed until January 8, 2021. “The tense epidemiological situation and persistently high hospital occupancy continue to make it impossible to issue operating licenses in accordance with federal requirements.” the message said. Avoiding ski accidents should, among other things, help avoid putting additional pressure on hospitals that are working at capacity. According to ETH data, seven of the total twelve intensive care beds are currently occupied; according to the researchers’ estimates, the value should not fall by January 4. Also, all the fans are already in use.

Stoosbahnen is not surprised

The governing council regrets the decision, but at the same time stresses that the canton of Schwyz currently does not meet the epidemiological requirements to grant ski areas an operating license. Only the concepts of protection of the ski areas, the contact tracing and the sufficient test capabilities available would allow an opening in principle. Since both the number of cases and the number of R reproductions – currently 0.9 in the canton of Schwyz according to ETH, and 0.86 throughout Switzerland – are above the Swiss average, the governing council has only once more to sensitize the population: “At the center of all measures against Covid-19 still require compliance with hygiene standards and applicable distance rules,” emphasizes the government.

Meanwhile, the reactions of the Schwyz ski areas to the decision are different. Sandro Widmer, Sales and Marketing Director at Stoosbahnen AG, is calm. He says, “We are not surprised.” Therefore, the values ​​have not really improved in recent days. He executes:

“The enemy is the virus, and health comes first.”

However, it is frustrating that the pandemic means that skiing cannot be maintained as usual. As the Schwyz health department emphasized, protection concepts would generally allow operation. According to Widmer, the Stoosbahnen have spent between 10,000 and 20,000 francs on this. This money was invested not only in skiers and snowboarders, but also in cross-country skiers, snowshoe hikers and other mountaineers. “Our cable cars are still open,” says Widmer. Hiking trails and cross-country ski trails in particular have recently been expanded.

Regardless, one thing is clear: the Stoosbahnen are losing a lot of income. Therefore, according to Widmer, he will be forced to register short-term jobs, as was the case during the first wave. Widmer says:

“There is the same horse game as in March.”

security First

Theo Baumann, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Sattel-Hochstuckli AG, is also not surprised by the governing council’s decision. “We feared an extension of the ban. The canton’s decision is understandable, ”says Baumann. The situation must be considered in a balanced and rational way. Baumann emphasizes:

«The safety of my employees and guests is the most important thing. That is my creed even during the pandemic. “

For Sattel Hochstuckli AG, a considerable part of the revenue is also lost: Christmas and New Years are “normally peak hours,” says Baumann. Like the Stoosbahnen, Sattel Hochstuckli AG also spent between 10,000 and 20,000 francs on the protection concept. “The canton has checked it twice,” he explains to the authorities without a reproachful tone.

The number of cases stalled at a high level, a mutated and highly contagious variant of the virus: will ski areas reopen this winter? “Hope dies in the end,” says Baumann, adding:

“We are ready.”

Mythenregion ski area is disappointed

“The decision is difficult to accept, we expected a partial opening,” says Remo Gwerder, Managing Director of Rotenfluebahn Mythenregion AG. He is disappointed that the ski areas in Canton Schwyz are still closed. The proposed partial opening concept was not approved by the governing council. This stipulated that individual ski lifts would be opened for children in order to create an offer especially for local families with a season ticket. Gwerder says:

“Now that the snow is coming into the valley, the complete closure is particularly bitter.”

The manager of the Schwyz ski resort goes on to say that people want to enjoy the sun and snow even though the lifts are closed. Alternatives are on snow hikes, ski tours, and snowshoe hikes. Gwerder is glad that the gondola, which is not more than two-thirds full, can continue to transport those guests on the Mythen: “We are holding on to this straw,” said the managing director.