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Austria Lockdown: This now applies to skiers

2021-11-25T12:35:39.612Z


In Austria, a nationwide lockdown will apply for the next 20 days. What this means for holidaymakers, which cancellation conditions apply. An overview.


In Austria, a nationwide lockdown will apply for the next 20 days.

What this means for holidaymakers, which cancellation conditions apply.

An overview.

Munich - Due to the recent infection rates of 15,000 infections per day, a corona lockdown has been in effect in Austria since Monday.

This should be checked after 10 days and end on December 13th for the vaccinated at the latest.

For the German authorities, the Alpine republic is a high-risk area.

What holidaymakers need to know now can be found here.

What does the classification mean for package holidaymakers?


In the time before Corona, a travel warning was a clear indication of the existence of extraordinary circumstances.

This usually resulted in the guests of tour operators having the right to cancel free of charge.

The deposit was returned without any deductions.

But the situation is different today: "Whether after more than a year of pandemic there is still an exceptional circumstance when a country becomes a high-risk or virus variant area after booking has not yet been clarified by the highest court," says Karolin Wojtal from the European Consumer Center (EVZ ) in Kehl.

Booked a trip to Austria?

How package holidaymakers can react now

What can package holidaymakers do who no longer want to travel?


For many travelers, the vacation they have booked may soon be coming up.

Due to the unclear legal situation, Wojtal advises in this case to seek an amicable agreement with the tour operator.

Often providers are accommodating and allow, for example, free rebooking to other destinations or travel periods.

“The extent to which organizers also allow free cancellations is at their discretion.” Travelers who have booked a more expensive flex tariff have the advantage: They can usually rebook or cancel free of charge up to two weeks before the start of the trip - without giving a reason.


What if my trip isn't due for a few weeks?


In the case of package tours, the following applies here: "If the trip is further in the future, the normal cancellation fees will apply to the traveler if he or she decides to withdraw now," explains Wojtal.

The reason: only if a trip is imminent, i.e. a maximum of four weeks in the future, can it be foreseen whether extraordinary circumstances will still exist when the trip begins.

In this case, the best tip is: wait and see how the corona situation develops in the relevant country.


Austria lockdown: Hotel booked yourself?

Such is the state of affairs

What applies to individual travelers in high-risk areas?


Holidays in Germany's neighboring countries are often booked without an organizer.

Then the legal situation is different.

The classification as a high-risk area alone has no impact on tourists who have booked their holiday individually, as Wojtal explains.

This does not result in a right to free cancellation of the accommodation.


What applies to travel law in the event of a lockdown?


For individual holidaymakers who have booked their accommodation themselves, there is one question above all: Does the lockdown go hand in hand with a ban on tourist accommodation?

This is the case in Austria.

In this case, the hotel cannot fulfill the contract, as Wojtal explains.

Because the accommodation is prohibited by the authorities.

The money paid must be paid back here without a cancellation fee being withheld.

The whole thing is uncomplicated if holidaymakers have already booked accommodation with short-term, free cancellation options.


Austria declares lockdown - the chances of free cancellation apparently good

What does a lockdown mean for package holidaymakers?


Here the situation in the case of Austria is pretty clear: the lockdown (these rules apply) will significantly affect travel. At the time of most of the bookings, this was probably not foreseeable. Only then did the situation worsen dramatically. The travel lawyer Paul Degott from Hanover sees this as an extraordinary circumstance - and thus the right to free cancellation as a given. Specifically, this means: "Travelers can withdraw from this corona development and are entitled to a refund of the travel price without any deductions," explains Degott. In principle, the EVZ sees it the same way. The considerable health risks alone should now be sufficient for Austria to declare the resignation, said Wojtal.In addition, the lockdown and the associated severe restrictions on public and private life lead to an impairment of the trip - and this should justify the free resignation.

What applies when returning to Germany?


The classification as a high-risk area also results in certain requirements when returning to Germany.

Unvaccinated people have to be quarantined at home for ten days.

You can get rid of it with a negative test no earlier than five days after re-entry.

However, there is no such quarantine requirement for vaccinated and genesis patients.

In addition, all travelers must complete an entry form when returning home from a high-risk area.

This can be done online, but also on paper in an emergency.

Children under the age of twelve are exempt from this rule.

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For the time being, things are looking bad for a ski holiday in Austria: the nationwide lockdown forbids any tourist offer.

The restriction applies until December 13th at the latest.

© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Corona lockdown in Austria: are day trips still possible?

What applies to day trips?


Depending on where you have been in the past ten days, day trips without an overnight stay are possible, as a spokesman for the Austrian Ministry of Tourism told our newspaper.

Food and drinks can be bought to take away, but must be consumed 50 meters away from the inn.

The good news for skiers: outdoor sports are allowed.

but only with close relatives, people from the same household and other important caregivers.

The ski lifts can also be used for this - but only with 2G proof.

Under the “vaccinated or recovered” rule, catering and lodging options should also be allowed to reopen from December 13th.


In the meantime, Austria has imposed a general vaccination requirement in the fight against the corona pandemic.

Refusals soon face high penalties.

* Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

List of rubric lists: © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-11-25

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