Skiworld, which is licensed to carry 28,500 passengers, has postponed its winter 2018-19 preview programme while uncertainty looms over whether airlines will be able to fly to resorts for the remainder of the ski season after March 2019. There are also concerns about employing chalet staff and reps after this date due to freedom of movement restrictions following Brexit.
Some high-altitude resorts remain open until April and could be without staff for the remainder of the season once the UK exits the European Union if workers from the UK are banned.
Diane Palumbo, Skiworld’s sales and marketing director, told TTG Brexit was “hitting us already”.
“We normally release our 2018-19 programme now. We are probably going to wait until January to see if there is any clarity.”
She added that Brexit had already affected the size of Skiworld’s programme. “It’s 10% smaller this season. After the vote [for Brexit] we took the stance instantly in advance of the 2017-18 season because of the uncertainty. The last thing we want is not to be light on our feet.”
However, Palumbo admitted that early-season sales had not been affected. “Skiers are very savvy purchasers and it’s all about the snow. We have had great early snow in resorts and group leaders have been ringing up to book chalets for a year from now. Normally we would be saying, here’s the price and the early booking offer, but this year we are just allowing them to reserve.”
Operators from all sectors have joined together to form the lobby group Seasonal Businesses in Tourism (SBIT), which says that “at least” 20% of the UK ski market stays in catered chalets almost exclusively staffed by UK workers.
Research among 50 independent UK outbound operators by the group found that the threat of restrictions on seasonal workers would put 25,000 jobs at risk.
SBIT wants a longer-term “fast-tracked” work permit/visa process permitting UK citizens to work in Europe on a seasonal basis after Brexit.
It is also calling for workers posted abroad temporarily to remain in the social security system of their home nation.
