Ischgl Closed Until Second Half of January
25th December 2020
Last modified on May 13th, 2021
Ski resorts in Austria have opened for local skiers only, but the resort in the Tirol that was an early spreader of Covid-19 is shut until towards the end of next month.
“Due to recent developments all around the third lockdown and the different legal circumstances in Austria and Switzerland, we have to make ski operations in the second half of January,” said the resort.
Other resorts in Austria have opened for Xmas though they come under further restrictions with a third national lockdown starting on December 26th.
What Austrian Ski Resorts Will Look Like Under Next National Lockdown
Ischgl was one of the resorts in the Alps linked to the spread of the virus last ski season.
- Ischgl under investigation over claims it did not do enough to halt spread of coronavirus
- 1,800 cases of Covid-19 linked to Ischgl
- Ischgl responds to criticism over its handling of coronavirus
- Ischgl sets out to rebuild image and reputation after Covid-19
“It’s sad every time the hope of a bit of normality fades,” said the resort as it made the announcement.
On Facebook it goes on to list its reasons, for putting back skiing and snowboarding.
1. Guests, staff and locals health is our top priority.
2. No fewer than 11 cable cars end directly at the state border in the common ski resort to Switzerland, where there are different regulations than this and we do not want to allow loopholes.
3. According to the current country specific regulations, border traffic would be permitted for the skiers coming from Samnaun. Conversely, skiers traveling from Ischgl to Samnaun and moving back to the Austrian side of the ski resort would have to quarantine.
4. In addition, different capacity restrictions apply in the two countries for cable cars.
5. The specifications for the type of mouth and nose protection also look differently and beyond the border.
6. In addition, Switzerland – unlike Austria at the moment – enables a gastronomic offer in the form of take-away stations.
The resort goes on to say that “As soon as the statutory and health conditions allow an official winter season start in January, it will take place and the ski operation will run up in the Silvretta Arena.”
Other resorts in the area are open including the neighbouring resorts of Kappl and See.
Conditions at the weekend were reported to be good and one PlanetSKI reader in Kappl described it as “a great ski day”.
Safety measures were in force and obeyed, “everybody wore FFP2 masks, obeyed to the minimum distance. It was pure pleasure.”
