A season shortened then a white season ... Before a return to normal (or almost)? The French mountain resorts believe in it, they are preparing to welcome skiers again. Some of them are already open, such as Tignes (Savoie) and Les Deux-Alpes (Isère). The others will be by the start of the Christmas holidays in mid-December. In Tignes, traditionally the first ski area in the Alps to open, the youngest skiers were able to hit the slopes of the Grande Motte glacier on October 16.
“
The first opening weekend is up to our expectations.
With more than 1,000 ski lifts, the start is slightly better than the last years before Covid, and rather good for a weekend outside school holidays,
”comments Frédéric Porte, director of the resort.
A success undoubtedly favored by sunny weather and optimal snow cover.
“
The success of this opening proves that everything is in place to ski in good conditions despite the health situation.
"
Read alsoSkiing: ski resort opening dates this winter 2021-2022
Reservations in good shape
What pushes the French to book their stay in the mountains for the Christmas or winter holidays? “
During school holidays, we are approaching pre-Covid levels. The trend shows a certain impatience on the part of the French, unlike foreign customers, who are more cautious than usual,
”continues Frédéric Porte. “
We opened ski pass sales at the beginning of September, a month earlier than usual and we are now 3% ahead of the same period in 2019-2020. Merchant accommodation is practically full for Christmas and New Years
», Rejoices Jacques Alvarez, director of marketing and communication of Altiservice, the agency which manages the estates of Saint-Lary (Hautes-Pyrénées) and Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 (Pyrénées-Orientales).
Read alsoHoliday in the mountains: "Are winter tires compulsory to go to a ski resort?"
Cancellation, postponement: French people in search of flexibility
But, to push for the reservation, remains to offer guarantees to the visitors. Unexpected closure of a station, confinement, illness ... In a still unstable health context, flexibility is one of the selling points. "
Cancellation due to Covid until the day before without charge and reimbursement by transfer of a canceled stay are the most incentive measures for the undecided
", concludes the barometer of the Savoie Mont Blanc agency, carried out in early September from 4000 respondents.
Tourism professionals have understood this and some offer systematic reimbursement in the event of closure of the resort or restriction of travel.
"
The stays that sell the best are those that include a cancellation guarantee for all causes at D-7
", comments Marion Lacour, marketing director of the tourist office of La Grande Plagne (Savoie).
For its part, Altiservice now offers undated one to three-day packages that can therefore be used throughout the 2021-2022 season.
For packages of four to six days, a credit note valid until April 2023 can be obtained.
Nordic skiing, moonbiking ... Always popular activities
The moonbike, an electric and silent motorcycle, is particularly popular in La Plagne.
NIELS SAINT-VITEUX
Hosts, tourist residences, holiday clubs ... The accommodation providers also play along. At Pierre & Vacances, cancellation is free of charge up to 30 days before departure. It's 60 days with its competitor MMV. The latter, who owns 20 residences in the French Alps, has observed an increase in subscriptions to his optional Vacassur insurance (4 to 5% of the cost of the stay) which covers the Covid risk before, during and after the stay. And to note a particular attraction for the new luxury apartments and chalets of the new Mountain Collection range.
And once there, what will this first post-Covid season look like?
Downhill sledging, skiing or Nordic walking ... The resorts are once again counting on the activities that were popular last winter when downhill skiing was impracticable.
In La Plagne, the moonbike and sophrology ski, also revealed last winter, are among the most booked activities for the next season.
To the point of running out of snowshoes again?
"
The postponement towards activities other than alpine skiing will not be sufficient to cause equipment shortages
", reassures Jacques Alvarez.
Read alsoMountain: tourist residences and holiday clubs ready for Christmas
Health pass: long-awaited government decisions
The ski lifts, with or without a sanitary pass? Authorities are expected to announce it in early November. BRUNO MAZODIER / Le Figaro Magazine
One unknown remains: will the sanitary pass be imposed on skiers? For now, it is not compulsory to take the ski lifts but it is to access the restaurants or bars of the resorts. “
Yes, there will be a health pass if the situation requires it. [...] We will be pragmatic,
”Prime Minister Jean Castex declared on October 21 to the regional daily
L'Indépendant
. The answer should be known "at the
beginning of November
", according to the Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne. “
The authorities must end the suspense. The sooner we know the protocol, the faster we can put it in place,
”impatiently Frédéric Porte, from Tignes.
Artur Reversade, general manager of Folie Douce, whose festive high-altitude restaurants have been closed for 18 months, awaits a strict protocol from the government, such as the establishment of the health pass in all mountain resorts and not only for mountain resorts. lifts. “
France must set an example by creating 'Covid free' mountain stations. This would reassure tourists, especially foreigners who might be tempted by
Switzerland
or
Austria
.
"And to insist:"
To avoid closures, do not hesitate to take strong measures.
"
At the risk of discouraging some French people?
75% of them would maintain their stay, even if the health pass was imposed on ski lifts, according to the survey by the Savoie Mont Blanc agency.
"
With nearly 90% of French people
[over 18, editor's note]
fully vaccinated, the health pass is no longer a barrier to departure,
" said Marion Lacour.
In the mountains as elsewhere.