(TAN): The popular Matterhorn drew skiers and snowboarders to Zermatt, as Switzerland’s modest coronavirus restrictions allowed near-normal operations. Police had to intervene to break up crowds at the popular swiss ski resort, while other Alpine resorts kept their lifts shut, reported OAN.
Despite a second wave of coronavirus, Switzerland is hoping that a middle way of social distancing, limits on gatherings and mask-wearing on lifts can revive the economy such as tourism without fuelling the pandemic.
According to media reports, some Swiss resorts, including Davos to the northwest, boast of “cold-fogging” equipment to blast the interiors of gondolas and “kill 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and spores in a minute”. The Swiss tourism association has even adopted “Clean & Safe” as its motto in the hope of easing tourists’ nerves.
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“If it’s open, I’ll definitely ski,” media quoted Swede Max Ahlstedt, a skier, on the glacier where Zermatt offers year-round skiing. Over the border in Cervinia, on the Italian side of the glacier, the lifts have been closed indefinitely since October 25.
Taking advantage of the relaxed coronavirus restrictions in Switzerland many ski enthusiasts took to the Matterhorn slopes as a welcome release from confinement with many saying that it “makes you forget the mask measures”. Although number of guests from Britain, the Netherlands, Germany or Scandinavia will inevitably be far below the levels of a normal season.
Zermatt Mayor Romy Biner-Hauser, mayor of Zematt is however upbeat about the upcoming holiday season. “People need vacation, People need mountains,” the mayor said.
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