Towards the 20-21 season with COVID-19
With the 2020-21 season fast approaching, the biggest concern is the operation of ski resorts.
How will it be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will we be able to ski as usual?
At the end of September, the Japan Cable Car Association, which oversees cable car operations (lifts, gondolas, etc.) at Japan's ski resorts, and Prince Hotels & Resorts, which operates nine ski resorts - Furano, Shizukuishi, Naeba, Kagura, Muikamachi Hakkaisan, Manza Onsen, Karuizawa Prince, Shiga Kogen Yakebitaisan, and Myoko Suginohara - announced guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 this season
Prince Snow Resorts does this
The newly announced measures to strengthen preventative measures against COVID-19 have been made into a video. Let's start by taking a look at this
To make every journey in every world filled with smiles
To ensure that everyone can come skiing with peace of mind and have a safe and comfortable stay both on the mountain and in the hotel, Prince Snow Resort uses easy-to-understand icons (pictures) to explain its countermeasures
Lift and gondola cable car operators
The guidelines set out by the Japan Cable Transportation Association, which oversees Japan's lifts and gondolas, state:
"Ropeway operators will take these guidelines into consideration based on their respective cableway operation plans and implement measures appropriate to their individual circumstances to prevent the spread of infection and ensure the safety and security of users, as well as to reduce the risk of infection to society as a whole, including by managing the health of employees."
To prevent the spread of infection,
the resort asks customers to follow the following guidelines when using lifts and gondolas to ensure a comfortable ride.
1) Maintain sufficient distance when waiting in line.
2) To prevent droplets from spreading, keep your mask, neck warmer, or face shield and gloves on while riding or in areas where other customers or ski resort staff are nearby.
3) Please limit conversations while waiting or riding, and for chairlifts, please sit facing forward as much as possible.
4) Please understand that staff will decide the number of passengers per vehicle based on waiting times during peak periods.
In addition, ticket gate and passenger attendants will be required to wear masks. For ropeways and gondolas, certain seats will be closed depending on usage, windows will be opened for proper ventilation, and the interior of vehicles will be regularly disinfected.
For ancillary facilities such as shops and restrooms, disinfectant will be available at entrances, acrylic panels will be installed at cash registers, tables and chairs will be regularly cleaned and disinfected, and hand dryers in restrooms will be turned off. These are similar measures currently being implemented in daily life.
What has emerged
Those in charge of hosting skiing are steadily making preparations to ensure that skiers can come and ski with peace of mind. After this summer
, many people involved are of the view that "people who truly love skiing will still go skiing, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. That's why we must ensure safety." We should keep an eye on the infection prevention guidelines that will likely be released one after another for ski resorts and facilities.
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