Leslie Massey
Austria's ski resorts are a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, with the industry contributing significantly to the country's economy. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual après-ski activities, with the Austrian government imposing restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. In 2020, Austria's ski resorts were open, but the nation banned all après-ski events to prevent the recurrence of super-spreader outbreaks like the one in Ischgl in early 2020. While there is no current ban on après-ski in Austria, the Health Minister proposed restricting nightclubs and après-ski venues to vaccinated individuals in September 2021. This proposal aimed to address the growing number of COVID-19 cases and low vaccination rates in certain regions. The plan's legality is still under consideration, leaving the status of après-ski in Austria for the upcoming season uncertain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Will apres ski be open in Austria? | Apres ski venues will be open in Austria, but they will be restricted to vaccinated people only. |
| Date of implementation | The restrictions were proposed in September 2021 and could have been implemented as early as October 2021. |
| Reasoning | To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent outbreaks like the one in February and March in the west Austrian resort of Ischgl, which was one of Europe's earliest "super-spreader" events of the pandemic. |
| Other restrictions | Face masks will be required in closed ski lifts, and passengers must stay 1 meter apart. Ski instructors and lift operators, as well as hotel and restaurant staff, will be tested regularly. Restaurants will be required to close at 1 a.m. and will only be allowed to serve seated customers. |
| Impact | Tourism accounts for about 15% of the Austrian economy, and hundreds of thousands of jobs depend on it. |
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What You'll Learn
- Apres ski venues may be restricted to vaccinated-only
- Austria is seeing a growing number of Covid-19 cases
- The risk of infection is too high for apres ski
- Apres ski venues will follow the same COVID-19-related restrictions for all bars, clubs and restaurants in Austria
- Apres ski is big business in Austria
Apres ski venues may be restricted to vaccinated-only
Apres ski venues in Austria may be restricted to vaccinated-only, according to a proposal submitted by the country's health minister. The plan, put forward by Green Party minister Wolfgang Mückstein, would see nightclubs and apres ski venues open only to those who have been vaccinated. The measure could be in place as early as October 2021, as some resorts open for the season.
Currently, people in Austria going to bars, gyms, restaurants, and other indoor areas are required to be vaccinated, have recently recovered from the virus, or have a negative test. Nightclubs are only admitting people who are vaccinated or who have had a recent negative PCR test. The health minister said the new measures were necessary to protect people from the virus, even if the unvaccinated didn't have the sense to protect themselves.
The proposal comes as Austria sees a growing number of Covid-19 cases, with 123 per 100,000 of the population over a 7-day period. This is a significant increase from a month ago when the figure was 37. The mountain regions of Carinthia, Upper Austria, and the Tirol have low vaccination rates, with less than a third of the population fully vaccinated.
The Austrian government has already banned apres-ski events during the upcoming winter tourism season due to the risk of infection. In February and March 2020, post-skiing parties in the clubs and bars of the popular western Austrian resort of Ischgl resulted in an outbreak that was considered one of Europe's earliest "super-spreader" events of the pandemic.
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Austria is seeing a growing number of Covid-19 cases
Austria is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with a 7-day average of 123 cases per 100,000 people as of late September 2021. This is a significant increase from the figure of 37 cases per 100,000 recorded a month prior. The federal states of Vienna and Lower Austria have been the most affected by the virus.
The rise in infections has prompted Austria to introduce new restrictions to control the spread of the virus. The Austrian government has proposed restricting entry to nightclubs and apres-ski venues to only those who are fully vaccinated. This proposal, put forward by Green Party minister Wolfgang Mückstein, is aimed at protecting people from the virus, particularly in light of the low vaccination rates in the mountain regions of Carinthia, Upper Austria, and the Tirol.
The new measures would build upon existing restrictions in Austria, which require individuals to be vaccinated, recently recovered from Covid-19, or have a negative test result to access indoor areas such as bars, gyms, and restaurants. Additionally, face masks are mandated on public transport and in closed ski lifts, and social distancing of 1 meter is required. These precautions are essential to mitigate the risk of infection, especially in crowded settings like apres-ski events.
The Austrian government is taking a cautious approach to managing the pandemic while still welcoming tourists and supporting the country's vital winter sports industry. However, the recent surge in cases serves as a reminder that the pandemic is not over, and precautions must be taken to protect public health. The growing number of Covid-19 cases in Austria underscores the ongoing challenges posed by the virus and the need for continued vigilance in the coming months.
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The risk of infection is too high for apres ski
Austria's ski resorts will be open to tourists and skiers this winter, but the nation is banning all apres-ski events. The risk of infection is simply too high for such gatherings to take place. The Austrian government is taking measures to prevent the kind of coronavirus outbreaks that marred the last winter season. The restrictions will follow the same COVID-19-related rules for all bars, clubs, and restaurants in Austria, with table service only and no standing at the bar. In closed ski lifts, face masks will be mandatory, and passengers must maintain a distance of 1 meter from each other, similar to public transport guidelines.
The Austrian Health Minister has proposed restricting nightclubs and apres-ski venues to only those who have been vaccinated. This proposal could be implemented as early as October, when a handful of resorts are scheduled to open. Currently, people in Austria who wish to enter bars, gyms, restaurants, and other indoor areas must be vaccinated, have recently recovered from the virus, or present a negative test. Nightclubs are only admitting those who have been vaccinated or have had a recent negative PCR test.
Austria is working to curb a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, which has prompted several of its top sources of foreign tourists, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium, to issue travel warnings for certain regions, including Tyrol's capital of Innsbruck and the Vorarlberg region bordering Switzerland. In the mountain regions of Carinthia, Upper Austria, and the Tirol, less than a third of the population is fully vaccinated, and Austria is seeing a growing number of COVID-19 cases, with 123 per 100,000 people over a 7-day period, up from 37 a month ago.
Popular apres-ski resorts in Austria, such as Soll, St. Anton, and Mayrhofen, are known for their vibrant nightlife, with bars, clubs, and restaurants open until the early morning hours. However, the risk of infection in crowded and enclosed spaces is a significant concern, and the Austrian government is prioritizing the safety of its citizens and tourists. While skiers and tourists will still be able to enjoy the slopes and other attractions, the traditional apres-ski parties will have to be put on hold until the pandemic is better controlled.
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Apres ski venues will follow the same COVID-19-related restrictions for all bars, clubs and restaurants in Austria
Apres ski venues in Austria will be subject to the same COVID-19 restrictions as the rest of the country's bars, clubs, and restaurants. This means that, while skiers are welcome in the country, the usual lively apres-ski scene will be very different. The Austrian government has stated that the risk of infection is too high for "apres ski the way we know it".
In an effort to prevent the coronavirus outbreaks that occurred during the last winter season, apres-ski venues will only be allowed to serve seated customers, with no standing at the bar. Face masks will be required in closed ski lifts, and passengers must maintain a distance of 1 meter from one another, similar to the rules on public transport.
In addition to these measures, the Austrian Health Minister has proposed restricting nightclubs and apres-ski venues to vaccinated individuals only. This proposal, put forward by Green Party minister Wolfgang Mückstein, would align with the current requirement for vaccination, recent recovery from the virus, or a negative test for entry to bars, gyms, and restaurants. If this proposal is implemented, a negative test would no longer be sufficient for entry to apres-ski venues, and individuals would need to be vaccinated or recently recovered from the virus.
The new rules for apres-ski venues are part of Austria's efforts to balance tourism and safety. Skiing and other winter sports are a significant contributor to the country's economy, accounting for about 15% of it. However, the Austrian government is also working to bring a recent surge in COVID-19 cases under control and encourage tourists to visit safely. These measures aim to protect people from the virus and reduce the risk of infection in crowded social settings.
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Apres ski is big business in Austria
Austria's ski resorts are almost always immaculate and charming, and the country is the undisputed heavyweight of apres ski. The apres-ski experience is so big in Austria that it has its own hall of fame, with The Londoner Pub in Kitzbühel and the Kuhstahl in Ischgl among its inductees. The latter is a beer hall-style bar with taps running non-stop from opening until closing time. The apres-ski experience in Ischgl is so renowned that it has been described as the "undisputed Heavyweight Champion of world apres ski", with unrelenting energy from the season opening to closing.
The apres-ski scene in Austria is so popular that it has become a key part of the country's economy. Skiing and other winter sports make up as much as 15% of Austria's economy, and the apres-ski culture is a significant part of that. The country's ski resorts are also a big draw for international tourists, with visitors coming from Germany and other countries to experience the slopes and the nightlife.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the apres-ski scene in Austria. In 2020, the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, announced that ski resorts would be open and skiers were welcome, but that the country would be banning all apres-ski events during the upcoming winter tourism season. This was due to the risk of infection, with the post-skiing parties in bars and clubs considered one of Europe's earliest "super-spreader" events of the pandemic. Since then, Austria has continued to implement COVID-19 restrictions in bars, clubs, and restaurants, including table service only and social distancing rules. There have also been proposals to restrict entry to nightclubs and apres-ski venues to only those who have been vaccinated.
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Frequently asked questions
Apres ski venues in Austria will be open only to those who have been vaccinated. A negative test will not be enough to enter.
The ski resorts will be open and skiers are welcome.
Yes, there will be. Face masks will be required in closed ski lifts, and passengers must stay 1 metre apart.
Yes, there will be. Apres ski venues will follow the same COVID-19-related restrictions for all bars, clubs and restaurants in Austria — table service only, with no standing at a bar.
