The arrival of foreign skiers being compromised during the Christmas holidays, the principality of Andorra announced Thursday, December 3 that its ski resorts would not open before the beginning of January.
"
It is a difficult and painful decision, but from a health point of view, it is better to postpone the opening of ski resorts to January
", declared the head of the Andorran government Xavier Espot at a press conference. .
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The Andorran government was keen to display its "
loyalty
" to Europe and France, which ordered the closure of ski resorts for the end of year celebrations.
Grandvalira, Ordino-Arcalis, Pal-Arinsal, the three resorts of the Principality, nestled between France and Spain, had initially planned to open the ski areas on December 4.
An opening postponed after the holidays represents a huge shortfall for this micro-state of 70,000 inhabitants, where the winter sports season represents 30 to 40% of the GDP.
The majority of skiers who usually go to Andorra come from Spain, with the French and the British each making up 12-14% of skiers.
"
We are aware of the economic consequences that this can have
", added the chief executive, hoping to be able to converse about it during an interview with the French Prime Minister Jean Castex on December 22 in Paris.
The postponement of the opening of ski resorts was done in a consensual manner.
A “
fair
”
decision
according to the president of Ski Andorra Francesc Camp, who hopes that from January, “
there will be an acceptable season, at least to pay the expenses
”.