Virologists had been demanding for days that ski operations in the country had to be stopped. The time had come on Thursday evening: The country is closing all ski resorts and hotels in the country. An aid package is to follow.
The State of Salzburg pulled the emergency brake on Thursday evening. After the Tyrolean state government announced the end of the winter season and the closure of all ski areas and accommodation facilities from Monday or Tuesday in the late afternoon, Salzburg followed suit a little later.
Because hour after hour the situation had worsened on Thursday. At first there was no talk of a ski area being blocked. Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) convened a round table at 7.30 p.m. with representatives from tourism, cable cars, restaurants and the hotel industry. At 8.50 p.m., the decision was made that a closure of the ski resorts and accommodation facilities was inevitable. Salzburg’s ski areas must therefore close on Sunday (last day of operation). The whole thing happens on the basis of the epidemic law. From Monday, all accommodation establishments in the state of Salzburg will be closed by the authorities. That means Monday is the last open day so that guests can return from the ski areas in an orderly fashion. More than 100,000 tourists were recently in Salzburg.
Far-reaching economic consequences
It is a decision of historical proportions. It was correspondingly difficult, said Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) in an interview with the SN. The consequences are “economically far-reaching”, yet they are “shared by everyone”. Ultimately, the health of the guests, but also of the employees and the Salzburg population is at the top of the priority list. “We have to do everything we can to stop the spread of the corona virus,” said Haslauer. However, the guests should be able to travel back safely and in an orderly fashion.
Richard Greil, primary of III. Medicine of the Salzburg LKH, had already pointed out in the SN conversation about the necessary closure of the ski areas: “The situation is clear. We close schools and universities where there have never been any cases. Most of the infections that occurred in western Austria were in the ski villages. “
“We will handle this”
The cable car operators had ruled out voluntary closure until the very end. Spokeswoman Veronika Scheffer said: “We are going, unless the authorities order the closure.” That also had liability reasons. If one closes “voluntarily”, compensation would probably have to be paid to season ticket holders.
The cable car operators have already brought in most of the sales. Willi Leitinger from the Loferer Bergbahnen: “We will be able to cope with that.” The season so far went very well. The second half of March is already weak when Easter falls in April. And the relatively late Easter week would also have been difficult, said Leitinger. “80 to 85 percent of sales are made from December 20 to March 5.” Scheffer also says that 80 percent have broken in. The bottom line is that some lift companies will have no losses compared to winter 2018/19, where part of the important January was canceled due to the snow chaos.
Concern for summer tourism
The damage is nevertheless enormous and will be considerably higher with the now imposed general ban. Especially in the hotel industry. It is hoped that the summer season will improve again. “At the moment, however, the demand for summer is zero,” says Walter Veit, hotelier in Obertauern and country chairman of the hotelier association. Since Obertauern has a very long season, he expects to lose up to a third of his winter sales. “There have been no bookings in two weeks. Since the federal government announced the drastic measures, there have been no cancellations until we go. Usually I have 80 to 90 percent occupancy at this time. As of Sunday, it would have been only 20 percent.” Veit believes that a third of the tourism businesses could endanger their existence. “Especially for those who already had problems.”
Werner Hörl, hotelier in Zell am See, has already estimated his damage up to 100,000 euros. Hörl’s biggest concern is how to proceed. “There are currently no summer bookings. People are waiting. You have to go back to normal.”
Governor Haslauer emphasizes: The task now is to put together an aid package for tourism. He will be with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Friday. “Extensive help” is now needed. The package should be put together quickly. The federal help is needed.
Spread increases by leaps and bounds
Seven infections with the corona virus were detected yesterday. There were four cases in the city of Salzburg (two women aged 33 and 79 and two men aged 78 and 83), three in Pinzgau.
In Saalbach-Hinterglemm the virus was found in a 42-year-old Austrian. Another member of the British travel group that had been in the Glemm Valley is also infected. BH Tamsweg quarantined the operators and employees of a guest house in Tweng on Thursday evening. In total there are ten people. The reason for the order is the notification by the German authorities that three people in a holiday group have tested positive for the Corona on Saturday after returning to their home town.
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