12/04/2020
This winter, ski season has been the subject of a Europe-wide debate as Germany, France and Italy pushed for a EU-wide ban on ski tourism until early January. Italy called for the ski areas to be closed across Europe until at least January 10th, however, no joint solution has been reached.
Switzerland is the only Alpine country that has not closed its ski resorts to tourists
#Laax Vorab Glacier saturday morning ⛷️????????#skiing #topskiresort @LaaxSwitzerland @snowparklaax pic.twitter.com/dCW6NmQT6f
— TopSkiResort.com (@TopskiresortCom) November 28, 2020
Norway
Slovakia, Jasna ski resort open
Ukraine
Poland
Czech Republic
The date is six days earlier than had originally been planned, and will allow skiers to head to the mountains in advance of Christmas.
Serbia
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Skiing to be allowed in Austria from December 24th
In a press conference on Wednesday, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said ski lifts would again be allowed to open from December 24th.
"From December 24, individual sports outdoors such as skiing will be possible again so that the Austrian population has the chance to engage in sporting activity over the holidays," Kurz said at a press conference announcing re-opening measures after the country's second coronavirus lockdown ends at the end of this week.
However, hotels will not be allowed to open until January 7th at the earliest, meaning that skiing will only be possible for day trippers.
Kitzbuehel slopes webcam
In France, resorts open but without skiers and snowboarders
In France, after the deconfinement of December 15, you can go to the resorts of the territory – from today if you live less than 20 km -, but it will be for Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, sledding or hike. Alpine skiing is absent from the program, since the ski lifts will be at a standstill, until a date in January which should be announced before mid-December. The executive’s decision remains strongly criticized by mountain professionals. Bars and restaurants will also be closed at altitude, as everywhere in the metropolitan area. Their reopening is scheduled for January 20, at the earliest.
No ski holidays in Italy this December
While the rules have not yet been officially confirmed, Minister for Regional Affairs Francesco Boccia said on Thursday: "The ski lifts and winter vacation system that is critical to our economy will reopen when the epidemic has cooled, hopefully within a month, a month and a half."
Spain
Meanwhile in Spain, where infections have sharply decreased, the government has said it is ready to reopen ski resorts – with conditions that are still under discussion – from December 11.
Andorra
The Government of Andorra together with Ski Andorra has announced the decision to delay the opening date of the ski season until the beginning of January if the health situation, restrictions in neighbouring countries and snow conditions allow it.
Andorra la Vella, 3rd December 2020. Grandvalira and Ordino Arcalís have delayed the opening of their ski facilities until the beginning of January. This opening, later than expected, is due to the health situation and limited movement of people due to the restrictions in place in various European territories such as France and Spain, which provide the bulk of the visitors to the stations.
As explained by Mr. Xavier Espot, Head of Andorran Government, the decision has been agreed by the Ski resorts and the authorities. The decision obeys the principle of good neighbourliness and loyalty to the European countries, in particular France, that have decided not to open the stations over the Christmas period.
All the stations in Andorra will coordinate their official openings which will be at the beginning of January. The final day is subject to confirmation and is subject to the health situation, restrictions in neighbouring countries and snow conditions.
Grandvalira, Ordino/Arcalis: The opening date of the season 20-21 is planned for the beginning of January
In Germany, no skiing
Bavaria has decided and will not open its ski areas for the end of the year. “The problem is obviously not to go down a track” more “Everything that goes around, in the lifts, in the evenings after skiing”, underlined the Bavarian leader Markus Söder. He is considering stepped up roadside checks at the borders at Christmas for those who would feel like skiing on Austria’s neighboring slopes, because “It’s not very complicated to recognize who comes back from skiing”.
