US Ski Areas Welcome Easing of International Travel Restrictions
20th September 2021
It will come as a relief to the US ski industry and opens up the prospect of skiing next winter. We have reaction from ski areas in the USA. Canada has already lifted its restrictions with double vaccinated people allowed in without quarantine. UPDATED
The travel ban for people living in the UK and EU, that was introduced in March 2020 by Donald Trump, is going to be relaxed.
The announcement about Presidential Order 212F came on Monday from the US administration.
Those who can demonstrate they have been double-vaccinated will be allowed to enter the US from November.
The exact date has not been released, but it expected to be in the first half of the month
People will still need to undergo testing and contact tracing.
At present people can’t fly to the US from the UK or the EU unless they have a National Interest Exemption.
The relaxation will come in time for the Thanksgiving holiday towards the end of November.
Thanksgiving is the traditional time that US ski resorts open.
See here for an earlier article on the proposed opening dates of ski resorts in the USA.
“We are very excited about the recent news that US travel restrictions from the UK and Europe will be eased this November,” said the director of marketing at Park City, Chad Wassmer, to PlanetSKI.
“The UK and EU are very important markets for us, and we look forward to welcoming back visitors to Park City, Utah for the upcoming 2021-2022 ski season.”
Park City, Utah. Image © PlanetSKI
“This is exciting news and perfectly timed to welcome UK guests back to our mountains for winter 21/22,” said Nicolas Barrancos, Vice President, International Sales, Alterra Mountain Company.
“Ikon Pass now offers access to Dolomiti Superski, Kitzbüel and Zermatt in the Alps, plus North American favorites such as Steamboat, Deer Valley, Mammoth and Tremblant.
“Our team is ready to pick-up where we left off and help get eager skiers and riders back on our slopes.”
Ikon Pass. Image c/o Alterra.
Many news reports speak of the announcement coming ‘out of the blue’.
It had actually been indicated by the White House earlier.
On PlanetSKI we wrote on August 31st: “The USA is looking at ending its ones (travel restrictions from UK) in time for Thanksgiving, and the start of the ski season, at the end of November,” in this article.
Airlines have seen a surge in demand for trips to the USA.
British Airways said the number of people searching for holidays to key US destinations in the hours after Monday’s announcement was more than seven times higher compared with the same period last week.
Virgin Atlantic said it recorded a spike in bookings for flights from the UK to the USA.
Ski areas are also reporting an increase in interest from UK skierds and snowboarders keen to have a bucket list ski trip next winter.
Here at PlanetSKI we will be updating this article as soon as we hear further details.
