COVID-19 has severely impacted all Australian ski resort operations this winter, with some resorts being more affected than others. NSW resorts are operating at reduced capacity and hope to continue operations until the scheduled close of the 2020 snow season, while in Victoria all alpine resorts have ceased operations due to stage 3 and stage 4 restrictions being introduced across Victoria.

Australia’s alpine resorts welcome the recent Victorian and NSW government announcements giving a green light for the Victorian and NSW alpine resorts to be able to open for skiing and boarding from 22 June, 2020. This gives renewed optimism and certainty for the local communities and the 23,000 jobs that rely on alpine tourism, much of that located in regional Victoria and NSW.

The ski industry remains hopeful that the 2020 ski season will proceed in one form or another. The ski season will only proceed with the blessing of governments and health authorities, and the industry will not in any way pre-empt what the decisions of government and the health authorities may be.

Australia’s ski area operators continue to prepare the resorts for the official opening of the Australian ski season on Queens Birthday Weekend. The resorts, which play a significant role in driving the local economies in bushfire affected communities such as the Snowy Mountains in NSW and Bright, Mansfield and surrounds in Victoria, continue to progress programmed summer projects ready to greet their first guests this winter.