Formally they are open until November 24th and even beyond, if the semi-lockdown really ends on that date. But the great unknown is on the "how", because new tightenings cannot be excluded which would end up discouraging the opening and heavily conditioning the "white" season, already cut short by the first lockdown in March.
We are talking about the ski resorts of all the Italian mountain resorts, whose managers are united under the aegis of Anef, the National Association of Cable Car Operators: the Dpcm of 25 October gave the green light to the opening of cable cars and chair lifts also for amateur skiers (and therefore not only for professional competitions, regularly scheduled) but only "subject to the adoption of specific guidelines by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces and validated by the Technical-Scientific Committee, aimed at avoiding gatherings of people and, in general, gatherings”.
In reality, in many places it will still open, as every year, after the expiry date of the provision, i.e. November 24th. But those wishing to anticipate a season that promises to be complicated will be able to open chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars to the public immediately. Provided, however, that a safety protocol being defined is respected, which avoids the very dangerous gatherings seen in the first opening weekend in Cervinia and which can however be in turn susceptible to further modifications in the event that the contagion curve (destined to rise in the coming weeks) gives different indications.
There is also the issue of regions with special statutes, such as Trentino Alto Adige where the president of the Province of Trento Maurizio Fugatti intervened with an ordinance which, however, he does not speak of ski resorts but only of bars and restaurants, which in Trento and the surrounding area will be able to remain open - notwithstanding the Dpcm - until 20pm and until 22pm respectively. Returning instead to the ski resorts, the debate is open. Also from the Autonomous Province of Trento it is assumed to regulate the access method "with apps, such as Gardaland, and other tools".
The issue of 80% capacity is also back in the news: “80% capacity – he commented Valeria Ghezzi, president of Anef – it won't be difficult to maintain, because with the fact that the meter distance must be kept up to the turnstile, I don't think it will be possible to fill the booths. Furthermore, internal transport with a mask and windows open is not a problem. The real problem will be managing the queues, here we will appeal to people's responsibility".
However, if for some reason something goes wrong, the entire season would be at risk. First of all because, as insiders note, if there were severe limitations to the systems there would consequently be strong negative effects on hotels. Also due to the psychological effect: after the publication of the Dpcm, cancellations for the Christmas period have been sent to many places in the Alps. And without reservations, for many hoteliers and operators it is unthinkable to open.
Also, considering that half of Europe is blocked by the virus, with more or less similar measures between the various countries and travel restrictions, foreign tourism would also be missing. Finally the question of work. The ski season gives work to tens of thousands of people, who in the event of non-opening or severe budget cuts, would lose an important source of income.
“We need incentives, reliefs and certainty on layoffs if the season were to be negative – he commented Giovanni Battaiola, president of the Trento hoteliers' association - in order to cover the workers who will have been hired by hotels and accommodation facilities with an act of courage and optimism compared to what we are experiencing now”.
