The government's closure of Italy's
ski slopes over Christmas will threaten 70% of the sector's
yearly turnover, the skilift group Anef said Tuesday.
"Christmas usually weighs for a third of the season," said Anef
President Valeria Ghezzi.
"But this year, considering that there won't be any foreigners
and the Italians will travel less, skipping Christmas and
opening only in mid-January would mean losing 70% of the season,
even if we manage to open".
The president of hotel group Federalberghi, Bernabò Bocca, said
closing a skiing resort at Christmas was "like closing a seaside
hotel at Ferragosto".
He said "it is important that it is a European decision because
if the countries around us, Austria, Switzerland, France and
Germany, keep everything open, wgile we are all closed, you
immediately understand that it means gifting Italian tourists to
the other countries.
"That is unacceptable, all the more so in this moment of black
crisis".
Premier Giuseppe Conte has ruled out big get-togethers at
Christmas and is resisting pressure from regions with ski
resorts for the nation's ski slopes to be reopened for
Christmas.
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