According to a survey by GlobalData, a quarter of European respondents are still “extremely concerned” about the pandemic, which could lead to some consumers cancelling or postponing holiday plans this winter.

Ralph Hollister, travel and tourism Analyst at GlobalData, said he expected December’s traditional surge in winter sports tourists to be “impacted as the pandemic, once again, rears its head across major ski source markets and destinations”.

He added: “Skiing hotspots in the likes of France, Italy and Switzerland will be fearing the worst, with many relying on these upcoming months to offset some of the losses experienced in the last two seasons.

“Europe, once again, finds itself at the epicentre of the pandemic - just as the ski season starts to gain momentum.

“The Covid-19 situation in Germany could be a key deciding factor on the success of the upcoming European ski season. Germany has more skiers than any other country in Europe, making this source market incredibly important for ski destinations.”