(Reuters) – European skiers are facing a bleak holiday season as countries shut resorts and impose other restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Some countries have called for a continent-wide shutdown. Others have resisted and decided to allow people some time on the slopes. Below is an overview of the situation in some of the main skiing centres:
ITALY
Italy has delayed the reopening of its ski resorts, which were shut down over the Christmas and New Year holidays, until Jan. 18.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ski lifts closed on Dec. 27 and will remain shut until at least Jan. 10.
AUSTRIA
Austria will let ski lifts open despite a third lockdown being introduced after Christmas. Skiers will have to wear FFP2 particle filtering masks inside lifts.
Hotels and restaurants are to remain closed to deter visits by skiers from neighbouring countries.
SWITZERLAND
Individual cantons remain responsible for their own ski resorts and open for domestic tourism, the government said on Dec. 18 as it ordered all restaurants and recreation centres closed for a month.
Ski lifts, trains, gondolas and other enclosed transport are being limited to two-thirds capacity.
The canton of Grisons has introduced a mass-testing programme to identify asymptomatic carriers. [nL8N2IQ3K V]
POLAND
Poland has closed hotels and ski slopes during a national quarantine until at least Jan. 17.
SERBIA
Serbia is allowing ski resorts to open, although precautions are being applied. Hotels are allowing only residents to use their restaurants and cafes, and limiting the number of people allowed in spas.
BULGARIA
The government plans to extend its coronavirus restrictions until Jan. 31 with a few exceptions. Under the plan, hotel restaurants will be allowed to reopen as of Jan. 4. This is being seen as an attempt to help ski resorts, which have been hit hard by the pandemic.
FRANCE
France will let ski resorts reopen on Jan. 7 if the coronavirus situation allows.
French authorities said they would make random border checks to discourage people from travelling to slopes in neighbouring Switzerland and Spain.
SPAIN
Some ski resorts have reopened, with skiers hitting the slopes of Catalonia, bordering France, after it eased restrictions that had prevented people leaving their home municipality.
GERMANY
A nationwide lockdown is in place – including in ski resorts – until at least Jan. 10.
GREECE
All slopes and skiing facilities are closed.
(Compiled by Elizaveta Gladun, Veronica Snoj, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Gareth Jones)
