How contactless-catered chalets are the ski world s answer to Brexit and Covid
Brexit and Covid-19 created the imperfect storm for British chalet operators in the Alps, as experts warn of dwindling availability
9 March 2021 • 2:29pm
Ski chalet holidays are popular with British holidaymakers but there will be fewer available in the future
Credit: Ski France
As tour operators report strong demand for ski holidays next season, the options for staying in a catered ski chalet looks set to be limited, as companies grapple with restrictions imposed on them by Brexit and Covid-19.
Catered chalets have long been hugely popular among British skiers, but with higher staffing costs and concern over how long the pandemic will last, the plethora on offer just a few years ago has dwindled.
How can the Government stop Britons from going on holiday?
Lockdown rules already ban people from international travel unless it is for work. Leaving home is only permitted for a small number of reasons.
Under the lockdown laws introduced at the start of January and which will run until March 31, people in England are allowed only to leave the house for a very slim range of activities. But the rules, which are largely the same as for the second lockdown in November, also ban foreign leisure travel, just as they prohibit domestic leisure travel.
What happens if I want to travel abroad?
Direct passenger flights from the United Arab Emirates to be banned from today
Critics point out there have 159 direct flights from the UAE in the last 10 days
Around 10,000 UK citizens are thought to be currently staying in the Gulf state
Priti Patel called out Instagram influencers and holidaymakers staying in Dubai
Said tourists and social media types face being turned away from airports
Arrivals to the UK from 22 countries will have to quarantine in hotels for ten days
However, there are fears the measures could soon be extended to all UK arrivals
People headed to France from London s St Pancras station hit out at the rules
They claimed they wouldn t be returning to the UK if they had to stay in hotels
Foreign holidays remain banned
Credit: Getty
It is still possible that we may be able to travel overseas from May 17 and we will hear more details soon after the Government’s Travel Taskforce reports on April 12. But there is no doubt that the prospects for a restart are less rosy than they were even a week ago. Anxiety over the rise in coronavirus cases in Europe, a shortage of vaccines, and the spread of new variants means the mood music from the Government has become more negative.
So what should you do about booking your holidays this summer? And what if you have booked travel arrangements already – should you cancel, postpone or hold tight? Here’s our guide to the great holiday conundrum.