The upcoming winter season during the ongoing corona pandemic looks bleak for European ski resorts, to say the least.
”"This season looks like it's going to be a disaster. 90 percent of guests have canceled," says Michael Silfverskiöld, who runs a hotel in the Italian ski resort of Valtournenche.
European ski tourism took a major hit after the notorious corona outbreak following the après-ski party in the Austrian ski resort of Ischgl last spring – where 6,000 people were infected – and the upcoming season looks set to be bleak as well.
In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte recently urged his countrymen to avoid ski holidays during the usually busy Christmas and New Year's holidays, and that ski resorts should remain closed at least until January 10.
Conte has also asked his European colleagues in Austria, Germany and France to take the same line – and has even threatened to close the country's border with Austria to stop skiers from traveling between the countries.
According to Michael Silfverskiöld, who owns the Hotel Millefiori in the Italian ski resort of Valtournenche in the Aosta Valley – and whose guests largely come from Sweden – the situation in European alpine tourism is serious.
”"This season looks like it's going to be a disaster. 90 percent of guests have canceled, especially after Stefan Löfven's clear call for people to stay home and not meet anyone."”
Michael Silfverskiöld says that the hotel's guests currently consist of a number of members of a couple of Spanish alpine ski clubs - and that they also have some Swedish guests in a rented chalet in neighboring Switzerland.
”"We are very happy that we can pay for water, electricity and heating with the little money we earn, but the situation is catastrophic for everyone who works in the hospitality industry. It's not just us who are having a hard time."”
Pontus Langley, owner of the Langley travel agency, which arranges ski trips to a number of resorts in Italy, Austria and France, also confirms the picture.
”"The booking situation is much calmer than it usually is. It's about 40 percent of the normal number of bookings from our Scandinavian customers."”
Langley runs hotels in France, where they are now awaiting word from President Macron about this year's ski season, and according to Pontus Langley, there is great uncertainty about the upcoming weekends.
”"We have no information about whether we can be open or not, and it is difficult to manage the uncertainty, both for us as a hotel operator and for the guests who are eager to get away for Christmas and New Year."”
In Italy, people are impatiently waiting for Giuseppe Conte to announce new information on the upcoming season for the country's ski resorts on December 3. The situation is significantly more serious now than during the spring corona wave, according to Michael Silfverskiöld.
”"During the first corona wave, people were very understanding - but the second wave will be much tougher. It feels like people are more panicked about having to bring in revenue," he says and continues:
”"There are many hotels, restaurants, bars and ski systems that need this income. The entire region is dependent on tourism. And last season was canceled after Stockholm's sports week. So we really hoped that this season would be more or less normal."”
Source: TT
