Ski resorts in Andorra will partially open from January 2, but only for residents of this independent principality, landlocked between France and Spain, the head of government Xavier Espot announced Thursday.
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The French and Spanish neighbors will perhaps be able to take advantage of the Andorran tracks from January 9, depending on the evolution of epidemiological data in their country, said Xavier Espot, referring to a "
very complex
" situation which requires research into "
many balances
”.
"
We cannot open the stations in a reckless and irresponsible manner
", and take the risk that Spain and France "
close our borders
" and no longer allow their citizens to go to Andorra "
because we have anticipated too much
“, He warned.
The French government had initially considered a possible opening of ski lifts in ski resorts from January 7, but its spokesperson Gabriel Attal on Wednesday showered the hopes of the sector, indicating that an opening on that date was "
unlikely
" because of the still high level of contamination of Covid-19.
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In Andorra, the opening of ski resorts "
is not a decision that is triggered unilaterally by the government
", said Xavier Espot, referring to consultation with professionals in the sector, as well as with the French authorities and Spanish.
The Pyrenean micro-state, which has some 80,000 inhabitants and whose creation dates back to the reign of Charlemagne, has two co-princes, the Catalan bishop of Urgell, and the French head of state, Emmanuel Macron.
The late opening of ski resorts this winter, after a truncated 2019/2020 year-end, represents a huge shortfall for the principality where the winter sports season weighs 30 to 40% of GDP.