Where to Ski And Snowboard - Ski lifts to start turning in Austria

Ski lifts to start turning in Austria

3rd December 2020, by Abi Butcher

Skiing under the cloud of Covid: Austrian resorts like St Anton will look very different this Christmas

Skiing will be allowed in Austria from 24 December, but limited to locals only with hotels ordered to remain closed.

The news was announced yesterday by the Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, speaking at a press conference at the end of a second lockdown in the country which has not curbed the coronavirus infection rate as much as officials hoped. However, he said ski lifts could open but hospitality venues — including bars and restaurants as well as accommodation — would remain closed until 7 January.

“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,” said Kurz, acknowledging that the economy needs to start to reopen and that ski lifts drive the €1.5 billion winter sports economy.

Elsewhere in Europe, French ski resorts are revolting against the government’s decision to keep lifts closed — with some 1,500 protestors gathering in Bourg d’Oisans yesterday. But the government is likely to stand firm, with President Macron yesterday announcing random border checks to stop French skiers travelling further afield to take advantage of open resorts in neighbouring countries.

Switzerland has so far remained resolute in its plans to open ski resorts for Christmas but this week further proposals by the Federal Council for tightening Covid measures have been leaked to the press. An official announcement will be made tomorrow but tighter restrictions include curbing the number of skiers on mountains in any given day, further rules on mask wearing for trains, buses and ski lifts, and possible closures depending on infection rates and hospital capacity.

An updated on skiing in Italy — which is currently paused — is expected any time from the Italian government. Ski resorts in Spain are open.