Turnaround in Italy: Ski lifts remain closed until mid-February

A few days before the reopening, everything has changed again: The ski resorts in Italy will not start operations on January 18, but on February 15 at the earliest. This was announced by the government in Rome. The autonomous region of South Tyrol has also already announced that it will not start skiing operations for the time being. However, the World Cup race at Kronplatz and also the World Ski Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo are not endangered.

There is no planning certainty in the Corona pandemic. This is currently evident again in Italy. After the Italian Minister of Health announced the opening date of the ski lifts for January 18 at the beginning of January (we reported), everything is now void again. On Saturday, January 16, a new decree will come into effect that prohibits ski lift operation for recreational athletes until February 15. The infection numbers in the country are still too high.

Update 15.02.2021: Just hours before the planned opening of ski resorts on February 15, the Italian government extends the winter sports ban for all zones. Ski resorts will remain closed until at least March 5. >> Learn more

Many other Corona measures will also remain in place until at least mid-February, including the travel ban between regions. There also remains the zoning of yellow, orange and red, which brings different measures. For example, residents of severely affected regions must stay within their municipal boundaries and are only allowed to visit someone once a day. In these areas, bars and restaurants will also remain closed and only offer a delivery service.

Shops, hotels and even hairdressers have been allowed to reopen across the country since January 7. This will remain the case for the next few weeks. In addition, museums will be allowed to reopen from Monday to Friday next week, subject to protective measures. Also cross-country skiing trails are partly already open (overview).

>> Current snow depths in Italy

As an autonomous region, South Tyrol does not have to adopt all the requirements from Rome and could still have started skiing on January 18. However, at a crisis meeting on Thursday evening, January 14, the regional government and lift operators agreed that the start of skiing in South Tyrol would also be postponed for the time being.

According to media reports, there are several reasons for this: For example, according to the new decree, regional borders will remain closed throughout Italy and only locals would have been able to ski. For many, this is not profitable. Guests from abroad are not expected in view of the many travel warnings including the quarantine obligation.

Another decisive reason: It is completely unclear whether the South Tyrolean ski resorts would receive compensation payments from the state if they opened on their own. That would entail an even greater financial loss. Therefore, the lifts choose to remain closed. The new opening date in South Tyrol is now also set for February 15. Whether it is possible then, however, remains to be seen.

>> List of all ski resorts in South Tyrol

Update 05.02.2021: The ski resorts in South Tyrol remain closed in February. In the autonomous province, a hard lockdown applies from Monday, February 8. For three weeks, stores, restaurants and hotels, among other things, are closed. Lifts will also not be allowed to open until March at the earliest. >> Read more

Not affected by the renewed ski area closure until mid-February is still the professional area. This means that World Cup races can still take place and training sessions for squad athletes can also be held. In addition, a women's giant slalom will be held at Kronplatz in South Tyrol on Tuesday, 26 January.

The Alpine Ski World Championships from February 8 to 21 in Cortina d'Ampezzo are also not in danger. However, there will be neither spectators nor a supporting programme on site.

Schneeticker