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Austria bans partying at ski resorts during winter sports’ season

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24 Sep 2020 6:46 AM GMT
Austria bans partying at ski resorts during winter sports’ season
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Winter sports’ tourists in Austria will not be allowed to party during the upcoming snow season in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission and to salvage the vital tourism industry, the government announced on Thursday. Austrian businesses and politicians had responded with alarm in recent days as many European countries issued travel warnings not only for […]

Winter sports’ tourists in Austria will not be allowed to party during the upcoming snow season in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission and to salvage the vital tourism industry, the government announced on Thursday.

Austrian businesses and politicians had responded with alarm in recent days as many European countries issued travel warnings not only for the city of Vienna, but also for Austria’s Alpine regions because of rising infection numbers.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that tourists would be able to go skiing, to eat in restaurants and to attend cultural events during the cold season.

“But apres ski as we know it will not be possible,” he added, referring to the partying that starts in many resorts as soon as the ski slopes are closed for the evening.

Outdoor and indoor bars will only be allowed to serve food and drink for seated guests.

In addition, restaurants and bars will close at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) in Austria’s mountain regions.

The tourism and leisure industry accounts for 15 per cent of Austria’s economic output.

The government had been criticised for its handling of the previous ski season, when hundreds of tourists from across Europe were infected at the popular ski resort of Ischgl, which is known for its lively party scene.

On Tuesday, a consumer advocate filed lawsuits against the government on behalf of three infected Ischgl visitors and on behalf of the family of one COVID-19 patient who died.

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