85 85 85 Let Them Ski! Austrians Defy COVID Rules on the Slopes, Amid Huge Losses Let Them Ski! Austrians Defy COVID Rules on the Slopes, Amid Huge Losses Let Them Ski! Austrians Defy COVID Rules on the Slopes, Amid Huge Losses Let Them Ski! Austrians Defy COVID Rules on the Slopes, Amid Huge Losses

Austria's winter tourisrrOhls season has fallen back to the / level of the 1950s, with overnight stays

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Let Them Them Ski! Austrians Defy COVID Rules on the Slopes, Amid Huge Losses

While reports of Austrian skiers defying social distance rules make international headlines, there is little joy for local ski lift operators who are recording massive losses and rolling back services

by Amina Frassl

Ever since the reopening of Austrian ski re- reopen ski resorts in time for Christmas, insorts, images of ski lifts jam-packed with spired by Finance Minister Gernot Bliimel, powder enthusiasts eager to carve and wedel who complained about the billion euro loss down the snowy pistes have circulated on the from a mandated closure of ski lifts. Internet. Onlookers speak of "ski chaos," But European officials did not share the raising eyebrows among healthcare workers Austrian vision. Remembering the fatal and federal government officials. For now, events in Ischgl last spring, which, accordthe numbers tell a different story. While ing to Politico, "spread coronavirus across Austria's COVID -19 cases remain stagnant, the continent," German Chancellor Angela ski resorts lament a lost winter season. Merkel pressed for the closure of all conti-

In Austria, skiing hits close to home. Our nental ski resorts (German ski resorts will connection to the sport dates back centuries; likely remain shuttered this year). Italian we practically invented it. So, despite being Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte reciprocatin a third "hard" lockdown, Austrians are ed, proposing to keep lifts out of service until loathe to give up skiing. This seems to have January 10. been Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's thinking Similarly, French President Emmanuel

Zum eigenen Gebrauch nach §42a UrhG.when he pressured European leaders to Macron emphasized Anfragen zum Inhalt und zu Nutzungsrechten bitte an den Verlag (Tel: 01/961074860). that it would be Pressespiegel Seite 85 von 86 "impossible" to reopen ski resorts during the holidays due to the high number of coronavirus infections (the reopening of French ski resorts is tentatively planned for February).

Still, there is an argument to keeping them open. Studies have traced the Ischgl corona clusters to its crowded apres - ski bars, rather than its ski lifts. In addition, outdoor exercise at high elevations is known to be healthy and strengthen the immune system. According to Tyrol spokeswoman Julia Scheiring, "The longing for exercise in nature and relaxation in the mountains is particularly strong due to the lockdown."

Following weeks of negotiation, Kurz found a compromise, arguing that "taking a ski lift is similar to taking public transportation." Alone

among European nations, aside from non- a relatively small resort whose slim offerEU member Switzerland, Austria would re- ings are restricted to 12,000 skiers daily. open ski resorts under strict safety measures And according to Autischer, ski passes just for Austrian residents. This time around, have been sold out every day, from Christhotels and gastronomy remain shut. Athletes mas until the mid of January, although above age 14 are required to wear medi- without places to recharge on the mouncal-grade FFP2 masks in closed spaces, in- tain top, guests stayed only for a couple cluding cable cars and ski lifts (available for of hours. purchase online, in pharmacies, or at the foot This strict quota allowed the lift operator of the mountain). Additionally, closed spaces to enforce social distancing measures, but are capped at 50 percent occupancy, other also meant doubling their staff, whom they than for individuals in the same household. pay themselves. Semmering- Hirschenko - In Lower Austria, parking spaces and ski lift gel Bergbahnen is not anticipating making tickets must be booked prior to arrival. So any profit this season. far, this safety protocol appears to be suc- But while the number of skiers was limcessful; No corona clusters have been traced ited, a flood of walkers and sledders arto skiing, and Austria's new COVID-19 cas- rived in the Lower Austrian town during es have stabilized at1,000-2,000 a day. the holidays, overwhelming the local po-

But despite this security concept, Austria's lice force. Packed parking lots led to illedecision has not been without consequences. gally parked cars along the roads or in In protest, Bavarian Minister President front of people's private property, and Markus Soder thwarted Germans' holiday guests reportedly "did not always abide" plans by imposing a mandated 10-day quar- by social distancing rules despite repeated antine for anyone returning from a high-risk warning signals. The situation got so out of area, including Alpine nations Austria, hand that the town was forced to close off Liechtenstein and Switzerland. According to all sledding slopes. the state government, "Tourist day trips or In contrast, the outlook for Austria's ski leisure activities abroad, such as skiing, are tourism could not be more bleak, especially avoidable sources of risk." in the western part of the country. Winter

The de facto absence of international vis- sport epicenters Salzburg and Tyrol are reitors, especially Germans, who accounted cording a very small number of guests. For for half of last year's overnight guests, is a example, the popular resort Saalbach Hinhard blow to Austria's tourism industry. terglemm in Salzburg told Metropole that it After all, statistics show that the country is is estimating a 90% loss over last year. On no longer the ski nation that it once was. top of that, the number of visitors has now Last winter, only seven percent of skiers started to decline with the end of the holiwere Austrians. A study conducted by the day season and the return to school and Viennese Institute for Recreation and Tour- work, with some places receiving as few as ist Research found that about 20% fewer 50 visitors a day. Due to the huge losses, Austrians set foot on the slopes than 20 several resorts in Salzburg and Tyrol anyears ago. This started when the free ski nounced that they would reduce capacity, week was no longer a fixture in the school only running ski lifts on weekends starting program, beginning in the late '90s. Jan. 11, and send employees into Kurzarbeit

So when ski lifts resumed operation on (short-time work). However, ski lift proChristmas Eve, expectations remained low viders must be careful. The federal governoverall. However, the ski resort Semmering, ment has warned that they would shut lifts just a stone's throw away from Vienna, ex- for good if the large influx on weekends is pected a considerable number of lock - not better controlled. down-fatigued locals to show up for a day's With the pandemic upending our lives in skiing. "We expected a good influx of skiers unprecedented ways, ski lift operators have and winter sports enthusiasts from our promised to do their part. Despite the ecocatchment area," said Josef Autischer, man- nomic hardship, resorts will remain open as ager of the Semmering- Hirschenkogel long as possible, permitting hobby athletes Bergbahnen. "Especially considering that to cruise down the Alpine slopes and enjoy everyone is at home and cannot go on a ski the crisp mountain air. vacation to neighboring states like Italy." "It's very difficult, but we feel that we And come they did. With only a single Zum eigenen Gebrauch nach §42a UrhG. have an obligation to our guests, who enjoy cabin lift and one ski lift, the Semmering is winter sports with us," said Autischer. Anfragen zum Inhalt und zu Nutzungsrechten bitte an den Verlag (Tel: 01/961074860). Pressespiegel Seite 86 von 86