The French government made the decision to shut ski resorts over the festive period to curb the spread of coronavirus infections, with the hope of reopening if the COVID-19 situation improves.
However, ski lifts, bars and restaurants have not reopened and are set to stay shut for a while longer.
When can ski resorts reopen?
French ski stations had hoped to reopen on February 1 in time for the half-term holidays, which is typically a very busy period in the ski calendar. However, the French government announced recently that ski lifts, bars and restaurants are to remain closed.
The mountain resorts themselves are open, allowing for people to stay in hotels and cross-country skiing and snow-walking to continue. But the closure of lifts means that the more popular downhill skiing cannot take place. There is also a 6pm curfew in place across the country.
France’s Tourist Minister, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, also warned that reopening in mid or late February “seems highly unlikely”.
Where does this leave ski resorts?
The ski sector in France accounts for hundreds of thousands of jobs in France. The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, is meeting industry players this week to “finalise the economic support measures” for companies affected.
Despite COVID-19 infection rates being relatively flat over the past two weeks, there is speculation that France could enter another national lockdown, amid fears of different variants from the UK and South Africa. A new lockdown would be likely to halt the snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing activities that have been allowed to continue.
Lemoyne acknowledged that this ski season would be a write-off this year. However, it’s not just the resorts themselves that are suffering. Entire mountain towns and villages rely on ski tourism to keep their economies going.
Should you invest in a ski home?
In 2020, there was still lots of demand for mountain homes as buyers looked for places with fresh air, open space and a focus on wellbeing. As travel restrictions ease, we could see demand increase again for ski holiday homes.
–
If you would like further advice on the selling process in France, download your free France Guide.
Why not split the cost and double the fun of owning a holiday home in France by buying with family or friends? Read our guide to Buying Abroad with Family
Are you looking for a property in France? Search on Green-Acres
Want to sell your property on Green-Acres? Advertise on Green-Acres
