Austria defies Italy’s appeal for Alps ski resorts to close at Christmas to stem virus 

Skiing in Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley of Italy

Credit: Robert Harding World Imagery

Two European nations are at loggerheads after Austria indicated it would allow ski resorts to open at Christmas in defiance of an appeal by Italy to shut down all pistes in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, has warned that allowing skiers to take to the slopes during the holidays could prompt a third wave of Covid-19 across the continent.

He has called for an EU-wide agreement on keeping ski resorts closed over Christmas and New Year, a position which appears to be backed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Under the plan, ski resorts across the Alps would remain closed until at least January 6.

Austria, however, has indicated that it is against such a ban and may open up its slopes in mid-December.

“If the EU does in fact force skiing areas to stay closed, that will mean costs of up to €2 billion (£1.8bn). If that is what the EU really wants, it will also have to pay for it,” said Austria’s finance minister, Gernot Blumel.

An Austrian snowboarder competing in an event 

Credit: AFP

The Austrian ski resort of Ischgl became a hotspot for Covid-19 infections earlier this year, with thousands of tourists catching the virus and spreading it across Europe.

Currently, Austria is in its second national lockdown so all slopes are closed, but the restrictions are due to be lifted on December 7.

In Switzerland, where glacier skiing is already taking place, the country would not have to conform to any common plan for closures because it is not part of the EU.

The modest restrictions in place there mean resorts can operate almost as normal despite the country going through a second wave, with about 5,000 new infections a day.

“If Switzerland and Austria open before us, it will be economic suicide for us,” said Elmar Pichler Rolle, the deputy head of a ski association in Sud Tyrol, Italy’s German-speaking province, which borders Austria.

Ski resorts fear economic ruin if they are not allowed to open at all. Italy’s ski resorts closed in March during the first wave of the pandemic and many people are hurting financially.

The mayor of one Alpine village that depends on skiing says local families are in such difficulty that they are struggling to buy food.

Valtournenche is a mountain village close to the resort of Cervinia, in the shadow of the Matterhorn, and depends on tourism for 90 per cent of its income.

“There are people who have been without a wage since March and every day I receive dozens of calls from people who are unable to afford their shopping,” Jean-Antoine Maquignaz told La Stampa newspaper.

The council has had to start giving out donations of up to €1,200 (£1,070) to many local families. “We’re just hoping that skiing will be allowed next month,” he said.