Ski Hosting Ends In Italy Too
Ski Hosting Ends In Italy Too
Published : 13-Nov-2014 12:32
Following the decision to end the service known as 'ski hosting' or 'social skiing' on French slopes two seasons ago, leading British tour operators are now set to withdraw the service from Italian resorts too.
'Ski hosting' is typically when an employee of a tour operator who, crucially, may not have formal ski teaching qualifications, takes guests on a basic orientation tour of the easy slopes at the base of the runs. The service is run in many ways in many countries but is currently the subject of an ongoing legal case in France with British tour operators arguing it should be allowed, and the French authorities saying it breaches laws there.
In September, all tour operators operating in the Italian Piemonte region, just over the French border, were contacted by the local Ski School Association advising them that they were in breach of Italian regulations regarding social skiing services on the mountain.
As a result of this, the biggest operator Crystal and it is understood other UK operators have taken the decision to remove social skiing from all resorts in Italy for this winter.
"('Social Skiing')… is classed as a criminal offence, and if caught could result in our reps being fined and prosecuted," said a Crystal statement, "Due to local legal restrictions our social skiing service in Italy has been suspended for this winter. Crystal customers will continue to be supported by our expert in-resort teams and the new Crystal Ski Explorer app."
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