Andorra's Ski Areas Not Opening Until January

Posts from Grandvalira and Vallnord yesterday evening indicate ski areas in Andorra won't be opening until January either, joining France, Italy, Germany and (for non residents) Austria.

But yet they will gladly welcome French tourists to fill up bars, restaurants and shops as long as the French open up their border on the 15th, potentially followed by the Spaniards on the 21st. But oh no, don't open the slopes as that will rapidly bring the Covid cases up. Word fail me for the stupidity our world is currently being forced upon us.

As a resident here the credibility of this country has been totally lost on me at this point. We don't belong to the EU but yet they fold for the powers in France while losing all of their dignity. They have now set a precedent that they are ok with being strong armed into things which will completely destroy the local economy. 30-40% of the annual GDP is dependent on ski tourism. To say that the local community is not happy is an understatement. Instead of letting tourism save the already failing bars, hotels, restaurants and other businesses the government will now have to spend money they don't really have supporting some of them, while many will still fail as the government support while not be enough.

They had a golden opportunity to make a statement to the ski world just like the Swiss have done and promoted themselves as one of the few countries in Europe open for skiing, a great opportunity missed. Due to its small size of Andorra and the dependence on tourism due to a lack of a diversified economy the country does not have the possibility to absorb a hit like this unlike the bigger European countries. A real tragedy in the making here.

On top of this a yearly mountain pass costing €150 is about to be launched here, a pass required if you do skimo, snowshoeing, regular hiking in the summer etc. Again, the locals are being outraged that their beloved mountains are no longer free to enioy.

Very sorry to hear that. Am a bit nervous the Swiss will crumble as under so much pressure but so far they seem to be holding out. Yes it does seem a bit mad that hotels etc can open and winter holidays can continue, just without downhill skiing. In Austria there's to be skiing for locals but no hotels open - kind of the opposite. In France they say a lot of resort businesses won't get financial support as they can open - there just won't be many customers as no skiing.

Andorramike. I am pretty sure the bars and restaurants won't be 'filling up', as my local friends are telling me they are not even opening.
It is a sad sad situation for everybody involved in the industry, but I think the worry is that by opening up they will be precipitating the close. Everything is so unclear, but if cases fall, borders open and vaccines are successful, perhaps we can all enjoy some skiing in February and March.
I am as disappointed as anyone that the season is not getting under way, but the resorts and Governments are really between a rock and an icy place!

It is quite interesting the different approaches to the same issue around the world. US has the worst total infection and death numbers but there almost all resorts are opening under strict pandemic measures (Not like the maskless Trump stadium rallies but actually much stricter than in Europe) and the view is it's better for people's physical and mental health to go skiing under strict restrictions than staying home. Resorts in Scandinavia and Japan also opening for season. Oh, and Scotland! French and Italian resorts questioning why cramped commuter public transport OK in cities if ski lifts a big problem in the mountains. Hmmm...

I know that everyone is putting restrictions in place and that is laudable. However, ski resorts are clearly a crucible for infection.I left Soldeu on March 16th, and in the weeks that followed, almost everyone I had skied and socialised with were infected with Covid, some confirmed and some suspected. A good friend from the village sadly died from it, and another is still seriously ill. So with personal experience, I am probably more focussed on safety and health than many.

Yes I got it in March after a Swiss trip - not sure if it was in resort hotel, on train, at Zurich or Heathrow or on plane, so mixed feelings about it all and can see both sides. Basically don't think one right, one wrong. Just looking forward to vaccines being widespread and not having to think about it all the time.

J2SkiNews wrote:It is quite interesting the different approaches to the same issue around the world. US has the worst total infection and death numbers but there almost all resorts are opening under strict pandemic measures (Not like the maskless Trump stadium rallies but actually much stricter than in Europe) and the view is it's better for people's physical and mental health to go skiing under strict restrictions than staying home. Resorts in Scandinavia and Japan also opening for season. Oh, and Scotland! French and Italian resorts questioning why cramped commuter public transport OK in cities if ski lifts a big problem in the mountains. Hmmm...

And this is the most frustrating part of this pandemic, the illogical decisions being made putting restrictions on certain things and letting others be. How can it be worse to be on a ski slope than in a crowded subway, bus, bar, shop etc? For certain economies, local or country wise, skiing is what they are living of and just as important to keep them open and running as public transportation as an example. Logic has clearly left the building, and all for a for the majority a harmless little bug.

Before you jump down my throat, I had the virus mid March and it wasn't until a couple of days after my very mild symptoms had passed that I realized it was the virus. My annual winter cold leaves me in a way worse shape than Covid did. Not denying the presence of the virus here and that there are people who have paid a high price, but the actions taken around the world have not nearly been justified considering the low mortality rate of this virus. Future history books will surely condemn what we have been put through over the past ten months. Recent official figures from Italy showed that the average age of Covid RELATED death is 84 and that the mortality rate of those under the age of 50 is at 0,1%. Numbers to ponder for those of you who happily endorse these draconian measures we are currently enduring.

@Brucie Once February and March comes around, and if that is when they open the slopes here, the damage to the local economy has already been done since long. Prior to the announcement last night business owners here were already saying many will not make it through January. I am sure you know of Slidewayz, they just had to shut down their store in ALV which was opened two years ago. If you come to Andorra for the 21/22 season I am pretty sure it will be a very different Andorra from what you are used to.