Towards the 20-21 season with COVID-19
With the 2020-21 season just around the corner, the biggest concern is how ski resorts will operate.
What will happen amidst the pandemic? Will we be able to ski as before?
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 Japan Cable Transport Association, which oversees lifts and gondolas in Japan, has issued the following guidelines:
"Cable transport operators shall, based on their respective cable transport operation plans and taking these guidelines into account, implement measures appropriate to their individual circumstances to prevent the spread of infection, ensure the safety and security of users, and strive to reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission to society as a whole, including the health management of employees."
specific measures to prevent the spread of infection
, the following requests have been made regarding the use of lifts and gondolas:
① Maintain distance from others when waiting in line to board.
② To prevent droplet transmission, 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 Keep conversations to a minimum while waiting to board or while riding, and in the case of chairlifts, sit facing forward as much as possible.
④ Please understand that staff will determine the number of people allowed in each gondola based on waiting times during peak hours.
In addition, ticket gate staff and passenger service staff will wear masks, some seats on ropeways and gondolas will be prohibited depending on usage, windows will be opened for proper ventilation, and the inside of the gondolas will be disinfected regularly.
As for ancillary facilities such as shops and restrooms, disinfectant will be kept at the entrance, acrylic panels will be installed at cash registers, tables and chairs will be cleaned and disinfected regularly, and hand dryers in restrooms will be turned off, which are measures that are currently being taken in daily life.
What has emerged
Those on the receiving end are steadily preparing to welcome skiers and other visitors with peace of mind. After this summer, many in the industry believe that "people who truly love skiing will still go skiing, even during the pandemic. That's why we must ensure their safety." Let
's keep a close eye on the infection prevention guidelines that will be released one after another by ski resorts and facilities in the coming days.
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