What a day.
Bright sunshine and fresh snow, perfect conditions for the slopes.
This is what many winter sports enthusiasts thought last weekend and set off for the Tyrolean Stubai Valley.
On Saturday the line of cars reached from the parking lot of the glacier lift fifteen kilometers back through the valley.
8,000 ski enthusiasts were counted, on Sunday there were 7,000.
The big rush was also due to the fact that many Germans in particular had not taken a skiing holiday last winter. “People long for skiing, exercise and mountains,” explains Catherine Propst from the Stubai Glacier Railways. Or, as the Austrian advertising writes on its advertisements: “Winter love won't let you go”. In Tyrol, hotels and guesthouses are already very well booked for the coming weeks and months.
However, the current corona development is clouding the joy of winter. Rising numbers of infections and new regulations may have been the deciding factor for some last weekend to go to one of the glaciers. Austria was declared a high-risk area by the RKI on Friday. The 7-day incidence was almost 800. Austria had already switched to the 2-G rule - access for vaccinated and convalescent - and announced a lockdown for unvaccinated people on Monday. 2G applies to hotels, restaurants, après-ski and the cable cars. The second vaccination dose must not have been more than nine months ago. Children under the age of twelve are exempt from the 2-G rule. A test solution is being considered for children and young people between the ages of twelve and 15 who do not have the Ninja Pass, the test certificate for Austrian students.2G applies to older young people. But there is a relief compared to the previous year: There is no mask requirement in the cable cars and lifts. "A good winter season is also possible with 2G, and that is still better than no season at all," said Franz Hörl, chairman of the Austrian Cable Car Association, suddenly confident. A few weeks ago he spoke out against a 3-G rule for this season. Apparently there is little leeway.A few weeks ago he spoke out against a 3-G rule for this season. Apparently there is little leeway.A few weeks ago he spoke out against a 3-G rule for this season. Apparently there is little leeway.
Quarantine for children under twelve
For German vacationers with children under the age of twelve, however, the problem of returning home remains.
Currently, the regulation of the Ministry of Health applies: For children under twelve "the quarantine ends automatically after the previous stay in a high-risk area after the fifth day of entry." So children under twelve always have to go into a five-day quarantine, regardless of which measures are taken the parents apply.
This in turn makes a skiing holiday in Austria practically impossible for families with children under the age of twelve.
Many will probably cancel now.
According to a recent survey by Österreich Werbung, to which the Austrian Ministry of Tourism refers, these families make up around 22 percent of German guests.
Austria's glacier ski areas have been open for a few weeks. Obertauern plans to open on November 18, Ischgl on November 25 and almost all other ski areas at the beginning of December. Anyone planning a ski holiday should, however, find out more about the applicable regulations. No matter whether it goes to Austria, Bavaria or Italy. In South Tyrol and the other Italian ski areas, the Corona rules are currently even less strict than in Austria. The same applies to the use of cable cars and lifts as to staying indoors in bars and restaurants 3G, which must be proven by the so-called "Green Pass". Surgical masks as a minimum are compulsory in closed lifts and a one-meter safety distance must be maintained. Self-tests are not accepted.Rapid antigen tests are valid for 48 hours in Italy, and PCR tests for 72 hours. The individual must bear the costs for this themselves. In addition, there is the mandatory online registration via the European digital passenger localization form.