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Emmanuel Macron considers "restrictive and dissuasive measures" for the French wanting to ski abroad at Christmas

2020-12-02T02:06:38.481Z


The head of state would like to prevent the French from going skiing abroad when the ski lifts will be closed in France.


Emmanuel Macron said this Tuesday, December 1 that the government was planning to take "restrictive and dissuasive measures" to prevent the French from going skiing abroad, especially in Switzerland, at Christmas when the ski lifts will be closed in France.

"If there are countries which keep stations open, there will be controls to dissuade the French" and "not to create a situation of imbalance with stations in France", explained the head of state before the press after receiving Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo.

Switzerland has kicked off its winter season

For a few weeks now, the Swiss have been able to hit the slopes like in Verbier, Gstaad or Saas-Fee.

FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

In

Switzerland

, hit hard by the second wave of Covid-19, the authorities and sectors concerned are presenting a united front, after an end of the season cut short in mid-March by the first wave.

"In Switzerland, we can go skiing, with protection plans"

, assured the Minister of Health, Alain Berset last Thursday, stressing that the government would re-examine the situation before the end of year celebrations.

For a few weeks now, the Swiss have been able to hit the slopes like in Verbier, Gstaad or Saas-Fee.

In Valais (southwest), one of the country's main ski regions alongside Graubünden (east) and the Bernese Oberland (center), the president of the cantonal executive, Christophe Darbellay, assured the l 'AFP: "we will ski at Christmas".

In the region, hotels are already open, and restaurants are due to open in mid-December.

"More than ever, people need air, snow, space,"

he said, expressing his incomprehension especially in the face of the measures taken in France, where the ski lifts will have to remain closed while

"we does not close the RER ”

in Paris.

IN VIDEO, Swiss ski resorts redouble their efforts

Germany, Austria, Italy, Andorra ... What our neighbors are planning for Christmas

The

Germany

has already drawn a line under the season in Bavaria, southeastern region of the country whose slopes are particularly popular during the holidays of the year by many German and foreign vacationers.

All stations should remain closed during the December holidays to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

We just can't have a classic vacation,

” said Markus Söder, the region's Conservative leader.

Germany is also putting pressure on the European Union to ban ski trips until January 10 and thus avoid unfair competition.

"

I'll be honest with you, it probably won't be easy, but we'll try,

" Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

They are all trying in particular to dissuade the Germans from going to neighboring Austria if it decides to keep its tracks open, reminding them that they would be imposed a quarantine of 10 days on their return.

IN VIDEO, ski resorts closed in Germany

To read also:

Tribune: "Yes, Mr. President, we must open the ski resorts at Christmas"

Particularly targeted,

Austria

is on a completely different line, although it is still considered a territory at risk.

A closure of the stations would aim to avoid "

a second

Ischgl

", named after the city which, in early 2020, had made the headlines.

Thousands of tourists were infected there, then contributing to the spread of the virus in Europe.

For now, Austrian stations are closed as part of a national lockdown, which must be lifted on December 7.

Read also:

In Austria, ski resorts want to save the winter season

With 900,000 positive cases for the new coronavirus,

Poland

has decided.

The ski slopes are expected to reopen this winter, but only for locals and during school holidays.

However, Health Ministry spokesman Wojciech Andrusiewicz said he would take action to limit travel around the country and Poles should not rely on being able to travel to the mountains.

In

Italy

, prudence also rules.

The controversial photos of a crowd at the cash desks of the Cervinia station on the weekend of October 28, prompted the government to lean towards the closure of Italian stations.

"To face

the festivals in the snow without restriction would be irresponsible

", asserted the president of the council, Giuseppe Conte.

As in France, the regions of the Dolomites, Lombardy, Piedmont and Val d'Aosta are classified as red with regard to the circulation of the virus.

As in France, the regions of the Dolomites, Lombardy, Piedmont and Val d'Aosta are classified as red with regard to the circulation of the virus.

GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE / REUTERS

Read also:

Travel diary in the magnificent mountains of the Dolomites

Simultaneously with the announcement, the Conference of the Regions approved the health protocol defended by the northern provinces to open with a capacity reduced by half in the cable cars and a maximum threshold of skiers per area.

The workers in the sector hope for discussions by December 4, the date of the next decree, on which the official decision will be taken.

Read also:

Without downhill skiing, what you can do in the resort at Christmas

Will

Andorra

ski resorts

be open during the Christmas holidays?

The Andorran government will decide in the coming days, but the stations have already announced on Friday that the opening scheduled for December 4 has been postponed.

"

We are postponing the opening date, pending the decisions that the authorities will take next week

", warned on their website the three resorts of the Pyrenean principality, Grandvalira, Ordino-Arcalis, Pal-Arinsal.

Still, the winter sports season in Andorra weighs 30 to 40% of the GDP.

Half of the skiers who travel to Andorra are Spaniards, and Madrid has yet to take a position on reopening Spanish ski resorts.

Read also:

Cross-country skiing: will the Nordic areas be open at Christmas?

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-12-02

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