The pill is difficult for the mountain sector to swallow.
Prime Minister Jean Castex spoke on Wednesday of the possible opening of ski resorts for the end of the year holidays, but without ski lifts or "
public facilities
".
Thus the stations may be open during the end of year celebrations in France but to avoid contamination, their ski lifts must remain closed, as well as the restaurants and bars.
Read also: Skiing ban causes turmoil
The national organization of Chambers of Commerce and Industry CCI France reacted on Friday, asking "
urgently
" for the opening of ski resorts and their ski lifts, for which the Christmas holidays represent 20% of turnover.
"
The fact of closing the ski lifts will encourage amateurs to take other practices: ski touring, snowshoeing, in training and safety conditions that have not always been proven and which can generate an accident that will have to be taken care of
", point out the CCIs.
More locally, elected officials from medium-mountain resorts in the Massif Central told Emmanuel Macron of their “
incomprehension
” about the decision not to open the ski lifts at Christmas, asking for a new examination of the situation for the “
spared
” departments.
by the virus
”.
"
Regarding the departments of Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme, you are not unaware that we are spared by the health crisis
", argue in a letter sent to the press Bruno Faure, president of the departmental council of Cantal and president of SAEM Super-Lioran and Lionel Gay, president of the community of communes of Sancy (Puy-de-Dôme).
The government's decision "
which we know to be for the collective good
" does not "take
absolutely into account the local context of our two departments
", and its "
short-term financial consequences will be disastrous
", they argue in this letter. addressed to Emmanuel Macron and dated Thursday.
"
Scapegoats
"
The International Federation of National Associations of Ski Lift Operators (Fianet) sees operators as “
scapegoats
” and asks governments for an “
objective
”
debate
.
"
The current discussion is to the detriment of all and does not do justice to a discussion based on facts and objectivity,
" said in a statement Mario Stedile-Foradori, president of Fianet who represents the interests of national organizations and cableway operators from Andorra, Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
“
It's no secret that in many regions our industry is the only effective lever to generate added value and jobs, especially during the winter months
,” he adds.
CCI France also underlined the unfair competition implied by the opening of certain ski resorts outside French borders.
“
The opening of stations in Switzerland - coupled with the opening of restaurants from December 10 - is extremely problematic and will play the role of a customer vacuum cleaner
,” warns CCI France in a press release.
Because cacophony currently reigns in Europe.
Some countries have announced a Christmas without skiing (Germany, France), others with (Austria, Finland, Switzerland).
Others are still waiting, like Italy and Spain.
Berlin, at the presidency of the EU, would like to obtain a general ban, without much hope.
Read also: Skiing: the resorts refuse to sacrifice Christmas
"
Opening too late could be fatal for the many small and medium-sized resorts weakened by global warming,
" warns CCI France.
"
We are currently receiving real distress calls
," said Philippe Guérand, president of the CCI Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, quoted in the press release.
SEE ALSO
- Faced with the closure of the ski lifts, the ski resort of Châtel denounces a lack of understanding
