The discussion about closing the ski resorts over Christmas is coming to a head.
In France ski lifts are closed, the winter sports resorts themselves remain open.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Markus Söder want the ski areas to be closed across Europe.
In Austria one does not seem to agree with this at all.
In France, a clear measure is being taken in winter sports resorts.
Update from November 26th, 12.50 p.m.:
In
France
, the
ski lifts
should
remain closed
during the
Christmas holidays
-
but
the
winter sports resorts
themselves will be
open
.
"Of course it will be possible for everyone to go to the resorts to enjoy the pure air of our beautiful mountains, the shops that will be open - except for bars and restaurants," Prime Minister
Jean Castex
said
in a press conference on Thursday.
But it is very simple: "All ski lifts and public facilities will be closed to the public."
It would not be wise to bring large
streams of the population
together, stressed
Castex
.
The
hospitals
in these areas should
not be overloaded
either.
At the
European level
, a
standardization of the rules
is currently being
discussed.
Corona-off for ski vacation?
Chancellor Merkel speaks out in favor of closing the ski areas
Update from November 26th, 10:00 a.m.:
Chancellor
Angela Merkel spoke
on Thursday in the Bundestag in Berlin about possible
ski holidays
.
"The ski season is approaching," said the CDU politician.
Tourist trips
should not take place, any unnecessary contact should be avoided.
“We will
endeavor
in
Europe
to vote on whether we can
close all ski areas
.
Unfortunately, when you hear the Austrian pronouncements, it doesn't look like we could do it that easily, but we will try again, ”said Merkel.
Corona-off for ski vacation?
Söder appeals to the population
Update from November 26th, 7.15 a.m.:
After the
Corona summit
on Wednesday,
Markus Söder
again
appealed
to the population
to
refrain from
skiing holidays
this year
.
This type of tourism "counteracts all efforts of the population"
to fight
the
coronavirus
.
That said Bavaria's Prime Minister on Wednesday evening in the
ZDF program Markus Lanz - The year 2020
.
So
far, it has not been possible to agree
on a
closure of the ski areas
at European level.
But a reduction in the offers is possible, explained
Söder
.
If the number of deaths in connection with the
corona pandemic continues
to develop like this, it would be “6,000 dead by Christmas,” he calculated.
Therefore he sticks to his line of "prudence and caution".
Extend and deepen: Caution and caution remain the joint strategy of the federal and state governments.
The situation remains very serious.
We have a mild lockdown, so it takes a little longer.
There is more economic aid than anywhere else in Europe.
pic.twitter.com/v2pBrN2wR8
- Markus Söder (@Markus_Soeder) November 25, 2020
Corona-off for ski vacation?
Affected regions in northern Italy are calling for talks with the government
Update from November 25th, 5.30 p.m.:
The affected regions in northern
Italy
have
requested
talks with the Italian government in
Rome
.
The reason for this is the feared going it alone by
Austria
and
Switzerland
when opening the
ski areas
.
The
Veneto
President Luca Zaia announced on Wednesday.
He had previously
spoken
to
South Tyrol's
governor, Arno Kompatscher, and
Liguria's
president, Giovanni Toti, about it.
While
Italy's Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte
had
spoken
out in favor of a cross-border
season opening
on January 10, 2021,
Austria
rejects
a uniform regulation for the later opening of the ski areas.
Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wants to make the opening of the Austrian ski resorts
dependent
solely on the number of
infections
in
Austria
.
Ski ban over Christmas?
Federal Chancellor Kurz considers international vote to be "excessive"
Update from November 25th, 4:04 pm
:
Ski ban over Christmas
- it was "
exaggerated
" that there was an
international vote
, said Austria's Chancellor
Sebastian Kurz
when asked at a press conference in Vienna.
And further: "I talked to both the Commission President and the President of the Council about it and I had the impression that the
European Union now does not
see
the task of providing
details for certain countries."
Austria's Chancellor Kurz drives Söder and Conte into the parade
Opening steps in all areas, including
sport,
would be handled differently by states, said Kurz.
Austria
is relying on lockdown and mass tests to reduce corona numbers in December.
The winter season in the Alpine republic could then also start.
Relaxations are always related to the number of infections, "namely the number of
infections here in Austria,
" emphasizes Kurz.
"I can only tell you that if someone goes running alone at the moment, then it is just as dangerous as if someone goes on a ski tour alone," said Kurz.
“When someone
uses
a
lift
, it is similar to when they
use
public transport
.
You have to make decisions based on these aspects. "
Ski ban at Christmas - that's what Italy, Bavaria and France want
Italy's Prime Minister
Giuseppe Conte
wants to keep ski areas closed at least until January 10 in view of the corona pandemic.
Bavaria's Prime Minister
Markus Söder
(CSU) supported the move (see update below).
French President
Emmanuel Macron also
spoke out in favor of opening in January “under good conditions” and voting with neighboring countries.
Austria's Finance Minister Gernot Blümel reacted sensitively to the proposals.
He immediately demanded billions in compensation from Brussels if ski lifts were to be shut down over the Christmas holidays.
+
Ski ban over Christmas due to Corona?
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz reacts indignantly (symbol photo).
© HANS PUNZ / APA / AFP)
Update from November 25, 2:05 p.m.:
The
Bavarian ski resort
operators
are facing a difficult winter.
Seldom has a season been so difficult to plan as this year.
Antonia Asenstorfer
from the Alpenplus ski association is hoping
that
the ski areas will
open
before the holidays in December.
“The Christmas holidays alone account for around a quarter of our winter sales.
The loss would be enormous. "
Asenstorfer
emphasizes: "We are in the starting blocks and we are confident that we can commence operations and the necessary
precautions
can keep." Even
Verena Altenhofen
explains spokeswoman for the Zugspitze ski area:
"As soon as we can, we'll open."
The piste conditions are currently a dream.
Corona-Aus for the ski vacation?
Söder flies his statement around the ears
Update from November 25, 12.20 p.m.:
The
Federal Government's
Tourism Commissioner
,
Thomas Bareiß
, is
critical of
a general
ban on the skiing season
.
“Safety also comes first in winter.
But I am convinced that skiing to a
certain extent
and under
clear criteria
such as a maximum number of daily ski passes is possible without any problems.
We should make things possible where security can be created.
I think a general ban is wrong, ”he told the
dpa
on Wednesday
.
The Bavarian Prime Minister
Markus Söder
received
opposition
from his own coalition partner
after his demand for the Europe-wide closure of the ski areas
.
“A supranational
ban on winter sports
disproportionately restricts many people's search for relaxation.
That is why I speak out against blanket closures - especially because all the mountain railways have developed excellent hygiene concepts that they implement consistently, "said Free Voters parliamentary group leader
Florian Streibl
on Tuesday.
In particular, he warned against the closure of exclusively
German ski resorts
.
On Wednesday, the tourism policy spokesman for the
Bavarian state parliament FDP followed suit
with his
criticism
.
"How does Söder actually want to explain to people that they can
sit
together
in a fully occupied subway
wearing a mask
- but not ride in a chairlift outdoors?" Asked
Albert Duin
.
He does not understand why outdoor sports without physical contact should be banned.
With good
hygiene
concepts, special ticket management and a staggered schedule,
skiing
can be organized
within the framework of the
Corona rules
, explained
Duin
.
Corona-Aus for the ski vacation?
Austria reacts to proposals by rejecting them
Update from November 25th, 9.45 a.m.:
In
Austria
, people are anything but happy about the proposal to keep the
ski areas
closed
.
Italy
recently called for a
Europe-wide closure
at least until January 10th.
The Bavarian Prime Minister
Markus Söder also
spoke out in favor of a uniform solution at European level.
Austria
reacted with vehement
rejection
to the proposals.
Finance Minister
Gernot Blümel
demanded
financial compensation
from the EU (
see initial report).
Tourism Minister
Elisabeth Köstinger
made it clear: “Winter holidays in
Austria
will be safe.
Our companies have safety concepts for skiing holidays, there will be no après-ski this year. ”In the Alpine republic, people are convinced that
ski tourism
with
distance rules
and
hygiene concepts can work
just as well as summer tourism this year.
In
France
, President
Emmanuel Macron has
spoken out against the rapid opening of winter sports resorts,
despite the slightly improved
Corona situation
.
While it run plus one vote of the government, but it seemed to him
impossible
, an
opening for the holidays
to take at the end of the eye, the head of state said on Tuesday evening in a televised address.
“We will coordinate this with our European neighbors,” he said.
Corona-Aus for ski vacationers?
Söder supports the Italian proposal
Update from November 24th, 9.45pm:
No ski vacation over Christmas?
Bavaria's Prime Minister
Markus Söder
(CSU) supports the Italian advance.
“If we want to keep borders open, we also need a clear agreement on
skiing
.
Otherwise it will be a difficult development, ”he said on Tuesday in Munich.
Anyone who goes skiing in risk areas has to be in
quarantine for
ten days
.
"I would prefer we would have a uniform agreement at European level: no ski lifts open anywhere or no vacation anywhere."
Corona-off for ski holidays?
Italy calls for a Europe-wide ban - Austria reacts vehemently
First report from November 24th:
Munich / Vienna - How
will
Christmas be celebrated
in the
Corona year 2020
?
Will winter vacations be possible?
Question after question is piling up as many parts of Europe struggle with the second wave of coronavirus *.
The number of new infections * is increasing in many places or is staying at a high level.
Despite many restrictions, there still does not seem to be any reason to give the all-clear.
On Wednesday (November 25th) Angela Merkel and the country bosses will meet to decide on further corona measures.
Germany's neighboring countries
Italy
and
Austria in
particular are struggling with the pandemic.
The subject of
ski holidays
is hotly debated there.
Coronavirus: Conte is clouding prospects for winter holidays and Christmas - "not possible"
"It is not possible
to allow
a
winter holiday
, we cannot afford it," said Italy's Prime Minister
Guiseppe Conte
in an interview with the television station
"La7"
.
The prospects for a winter vacation and a normal Christmas have clouded Conte.
Italy is therefore aiming, in coordination with German Chancellor Angela Merkel * (CDU) and France's President
Emmanuel Macron, for
a
European roadmap
for the gradual opening of the ski areas.
According to media reports, there is agreement among the heads of government that uncoordinated and too fast openings like in the summer would be a mistake.
Conte wants to
keep
ski areas
closed
at least until January 10 in
view of the Corona * pandemic
.
The Italian regions also called for at least a transnational regulation.
If ski slopes were to be closed, it should apply to all of Europe
, said the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, in an interview with the newspaper
"Corriere della Sera"
(Tuesday).
Corona: ski areas closed until January 10th?
- "If the EU wants that, it has to pay for it"
Austria
, which has been emphasizing for months that it wants to open the ski areas with appropriate precautions at any price, responded on Tuesday with vehement rejection.
The country is currently in a "hard lockdown".
“If the EU actually stipulates that the ski resorts must remain closed, then that means costs of up to two billion euros.
If the EU really wants that, then it has to pay for it, ”
said Austria's Finance Minister
Gernot Blümel
on Tuesday.
Coronavirus in Austria: "If ski areas have to remain closed ..."
“In
Austria
, we set up a revenue replacement in the shortest possible time for all those areas that we officially closed.
If ski areas have to remain closed, then the EU has to provide compensation for skiing outages, ”said Blümel.
If they are closed for three weeks, the Austrian ski resorts alone are expected to lose 2.4 billion euros in sales.
80 percent of sales, as received by
closed companies
in
Austria
because of the
corona pandemic
, means payments of around 2 billion euros, his ministry justified the bill.
Meanwhile, a doctor sharply criticized the Merkel government's measures during the corona pandemic.
* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen digital editorial network (dpa / mbr)
List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / Silas Stein / dpa