In La Plagne, the largest French ski resort (50,000 beds), the government's announcement on Monday to decide only in the next ten days whether or not to open ski resorts for the Christmas holidays was good. greeted by the managers of the station.
“Given the current health situation, we did not want decisions taken in haste.
We are therefore satisfied, ”says Jean-Luc Boch, mayor of La Plagne (Savoie) but also president of the National Association of Mayors of Mountain Resorts.
“Hospitals in the region are very busy with the Covid right now.
We don't want to overload them with ski accidents.
The mountain people are responsible people.
They fully understand the situation.
"
It is true that Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère are the departments most affected in France by the virus.
But in La Plagne, we still have the hope of being able to open at Christmas.
And we are preparing, while waiting for a possible green light from the authorities.
“We hire our seasonal workers, we do the final work on our lifts, our slopes.
We also launched the production of artificial snow, ”explains Nicolas Provendie, owner of the ski area.
Approved neck warmers, cabin disinfection ...
“Our health protocol is ready,” he continues.
Our customers will have to wear a mask on the ski lifts.
Neck warmers approved against the virus and allowing you to be warmer than with a mask will be on sale in the station.
There will be regular disinfection of the cable cars, the queues will be organized so that the regulatory distances are respected.
The Christmas period is important for us because it represents almost 20% of our turnover.
"
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Michèle, who runs a ski rental shop, is also active.
“We are currently bringing in all the equipment.
And I hire my seasonal workers.
From December 7, there will be thirteen in the store.
We will do everything to avoid the queues in the store.
We are even preparing to serve customers outside the store, in drive.
"Marion Lizeroux - Julien's sister -, ski instructor at the ESF, recalls that" the season is short.
The economy of our valleys is based on skiing.
We are 17,000 instructors in France.
We absolutely have to be able to work.
Last winter, when the stations had to suddenly close in March, we were entitled to 1,500 euros in monthly compensation.
But it is far from our usual income.
"
In La Plagne, as in the other resorts, to reassure holidaymakers, plans have been made to open an antigen testing center in order to test the 4,500 seasonal workers in the resort as well as tourists.
The prospect of seeing bars and restaurants closed until January would be a big blow, however.
“People come to the mountains to party, to enjoy the conviviality of a restaurant meal, around a good fondue or a raclette.
Serve them as a drive, it won't be the same.
We would lose a lot of customers, ”laments Philippe, a restaurateur.
Jessica, a 22-year-old seasonal, laments: “I can't find a job as a waitress.
Even if the Minister of Employment
(Editor's note: Elisabeth Borne)
asked employers to hire.
"
Many foreigners (35% of the customers in La Plagne) should give up their stays in the resort, especially the British.
“We hope to convince the French who used to go to seek the sun and the heat abroad to come and spend their holidays in the snow this year.
And we rely a lot on last minute bookings, ”explains the director of the tourist office, Rémy Counil.