Winter is upon us, and in the ski world, there is some concern. Resorts are worrying that national governments will close ski resorts. The government’s debate among themselves over whether the Covid-19 threat suggests that skiing should be off-limits over Christmas and New Year.
Recent developments are coming from France, where ski resorts have already been braced for bad news; though French resorts will open, the lift systems will not!
Can we go skiing this Christmas and New Year?
A few days ago, British skiers were getting excited: buoyed by the news that a five-day Test and Release scheme will replace 14-day quarantines for travellers returning from high-risk countries. Question marks were still hanging over holiday insurance: but there was no denying that many saw five days of quarantine (with a day awaiting test results) as good news.
However, faced with this avalanche of closures, Christmas and New Year’s skiing is officially off. But it’s not quite: since there are already three mainstream European ski resorts planning to be open during the holidays.
Switzerland
Switzerland chose this autumn to take a different direction from its neighbours. It didn’t lockdown, and while there are high levels of Covid-19 infection, several prominent voices call on the Swiss to keep their nerve. Some high-altitude resorts, especially Zermatt are currently open. There’s not much snow around yet, but we should see many more lift systems opening around the country as soon as that changes.
In Zermatt, restaurants are only open for take-aways: making it very difficult to warm up on the mountain. But this is going to be a minor impediment for those who enjoy their skiing. Who needs a sit-down meal? Sandwiches and a drink in your backpack are all you need.
There is also a possibility that Switzerland, even though the country’s federal structure makes a national shutdown difficult, can change its mind about the lockdown. Switzerland announced that before Christmas, the government would re-examine skiing. So, for the next few weeks, it is worth keeping an eye on developments.
Sweden
Sweden has never been locked down. It is unlikely that the number of hospitalisations would change direction short of an explosion: even though the infection rates are close to Switzerland and Italy. As a result, as soon as conditions allow, resorts such as Are and Salen plan to open up (Are hopes this will be by mid-December). There is much less lift-assisted skiing in Sweden than in Switzerland or Austria, and fewer skiers live nearby.
Austria
Austria will be under lockdown until December 7th. The decision on whether to reopen the ski resorts will officially be announced. It is worth noting that the country vehemently opposes the concept of an EU-wide lockdown. Germany’s pressure can also alter the Austrian view: Bavaria imposed a quarantine on returning travellers from Austria, keeping a close eye on the eastern Alps.
Ski holiday bookings and ski insurance
When it comes to booking holidays, there’s an extra problem. Several British travel companies have written off the first month of the season, and they are not taking bookings.
It seems likely that the Foreign Office will still be officially recommending against travel to high-risk Covid-19 countries when the UK’s test and release scheme is launched on December 15th. That means several plans for travel insurance would be invalid. To have insurance for medical emergencies, you will have to purchase two policies.
It won’t be as easy to book a Christmas or New Year trip as we first thought. This ski break is what we need, so don’t give up yet but watch out for the latest updates.