Ischgl postpones the start of the winter season 2020/21

Last updated on 05.11.2020

The plan was to mark the start of this year’s winter season in Ischgl on 26 November. Unfortunately, the new general regulations issued by the Austrian Federal Government require a postponement of the planned start to the season in Paznaun, Tyrol. Silvrettaseilbahn AG has set a new date for the winter opening on 17 December, provided that the Corona virus situation in general has stabilised by then. The other winter sports destinations in Paznaun (Galtür, Kappl and See) will kick off their winter season on 18 December.

Following the introduction of Covid-19 protective measures for Austria which are in force until 30 November, restaurants and accommodation facilities are not able to welcome any guests during this period. The cable cars in Ischgl are also not able to operate for winter sports visitors during this time. “It is clear that the health of our guests, employees and locals is a top priority for us. That’s why we fully support the required country-wide measures for tackling this virus,” say Alexander von der Thannen, Chairman of the Paznaun – Ischgl Tourist Board and Günther Zangerl, Executive Board member at Silvrettaseilbahn AG.

Multi-faceted health management
This summer with no clusters of the virus in Paznaun has shown that the measures introduced do have an effect. “We want to do everything we can over the coming winter season to play our part as responsible host with comprehensive health and safety standards. The aim is and remains to be one of the safest destinations for guests in the Alpine region,” explains Alexander von der Thannen, Chairman of the Paznaun – Ischgl Tourist Board. It can be assumed that the newly issued stringent measures will lead to a rapid decline in active cases and this may then form the basis for a lifting of travel warnings.

Season opening on 17 December
Following internal meetings, Silvrettaseilbahn AG opted to set the 17 December as the new date for the winter opening in Ischgl. “We had already prepared for the 26 November by introducing comprehensive hygiene and safety measures and were very well set up to handle the planned start of the winter season. We now hope that the conditions are set for the start of the season on 17 December and we are doing our utmost to ensure that guests can enjoy a winter sports experience with maximum safety,” says Markus Walser, Executive Board member at Silvrettaseilbahn AG. Over the past few weeks alone, some 700,000 € have been invested by Silvrettaseilbahn AG in additional health and safety measures – such as a newly developed camera system for monitoring social distancing in the queuing areas of the three feeder cableways.