The whole travel industry has been affected dramatically with the global pandemic going on indefinitely, and ski fans may ponder how 2020/2021 winter will turn out to be. Many ski resorts were open and then forced to closed, while others have delayed their opening date several times. Resorts in Austria and Italy are still closed until January 7 when Switzerland has cautiously reassessed the situation to diminish border restrictions, but its European neighbors might increase pressure on it to close again.
However, with measures in response to Covid-19 from governments worldwide and enhanced safety standards, we can now see positive signs for the possibility of winter travel and resorts operating. In fact, there is an estimate of more than 3,000 ski areas currently open across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. After strict lockdowns being imposed widely in many European countries, it is expected that the situation will get better with the vaccinations being carried out, and ski resorts get back to business in mid to late January. In North America, all ski resorts (except Ontario) are currently open. Travelers are recommended to check all traveling guidelines of their destinations in advance as the situation might change when countries cautiously reevaluate, leading to new lockdowns or tighter restrictions.
Ensuring safety for their customers has become the prerequisite concern of all ski resorts. It is good news that they are already thinking ahead, and new safety measures are comprehensively put in place. The new “SafeGuard” label -the Hygiene Excellence and Safety Label- has been established and consistently pursued by resorts to reopen safely and ensure peace of mind for their guests. Operational changes are also considered as an effective solution to run everything smoothly in peak periods.
Countries that currently have ski resorts open for the 2020/2021 season:
- North America: Canada (except Ontario), U.S.A
- Europe: Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.
- Asia: Azerbaijan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey
- Africa: Morocco
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