Only Samnaun is still waiting for a clear announcement – from Austria
The Covid certificate requirement is not an issue for the time being on Swiss ski slopes, but it is in neighboring countries. The Samnaun ski area is facing a special situation – because of the piste connection with Ischgl.
Alain Berset is keeping a back door open: “At the moment” it looks like that there is no need for a certificate on Swiss ski slopes. If the corona situation worsens in winter, you have to go through the books again. With these statements, the Interior Minister drew a line under the back and forth of the past few days on Wednesday. Albeit provisionally emphasized.
Berno Stoffel, Director of the Swiss Cable Car Industry Association, takes this announcement with relief: “We are satisfied. We can live very well with this solution, ”he explains when asked by blue News.
The fact that the rules can still change in the course of the season is manageable: “We lived with this uncertainty all of last winter. In addition, we now have a more stable situation thanks to the vaccination. “
As in the last season, Switzerland could go a separate way, with less stringent requirements than its neighbors. Without a certificate requirement, but with a mask requirement in closed cabins and indoors. Winter sports enthusiasts dying to soak up the sun on the pickling terrace don’t even need a mask.
In Austria, on the other hand, everything is tested for a 3-G rule: Only those who have been vaccinated, recovered or have been vaccinated should be allowed on the slopes. In addition, wearing an FFP2 mask would be mandatory in the cable cars.
Samnaun has to “track every conceivable variant”
The ski area in Samnaun in Graubünden poses a special situation, after all, it is connected to Ischgl. And in the end, different requirements may apply on both sides of the border. “That’s really the crux of the matter,” says Mario Jenal, Managing Director of the Samnaun Cable Car, to blue News. But nothing is fixed yet, especially on the Austrian side. “We’re still waiting for clarity, it was gilded. Until then, however, we will open up all conceivable variants. “
Jenal has bad memories of last year’s season, when everything changed shortly before the start. At that time Austria decided that winter sports should only be possible for locals, even without the possibility of staying overnight. As a result, the Ischgl area did not even start operating its lifts.
Nonnenpflanze Samnaun the start of the season for November 25th. Whatever comes until then, one thing is certain for the mountain railway boss: “The goal must be that uniform rules apply to all winter sports enthusiasts.” Does that mean that if a certificate is required in Austria, then you can only go on the slopes in Samnaun with a certificate? “That would then be the consequence,” confirmed Jenal.
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However, everything will be done to offer winter sports enthusiasts the opportunity to test them on site. «Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has recovered should be able to be tested within 15 minutes without complications. Everyone should have the opportunity to get onto the slopes. “
“Back then we had full hotels, but the guests from Ischgl missed the mountain.” The result: massive financial slumps in spite of the splendid slope conditions. Jenal is convinced that “this year it can’t really turn out that bad anymore”.
A locational advantage for Switzerland?
Does Switzerland have a locational advantage over other Alpine countries thanks to the lack of a certificate requirement? Berno Stoffel from Seilbahnen Schweiz does not believe this: “Whether someone spends their holidays in Switzerland or Austria, other arguments are decisive. In addition, the guests need a certificate for the restaurants and hotels anyway. “
Stoffel is convinced: The entire initial situation would have to change significantly for the certificate requirement to be introduced. “And even if we do, we’ll come to terms with it.”