Austrian ski resort of Ischgl now wants less ‘party tourism’

The Alpine ski resort of Ischgl, which was the epicentre of Austria’s biggest cluster of coronavirus infections, has decided to move away from “party tourism”. The resort was under quarantine for a month.

Ischgl is near the point where Austria, Italy and Switzerland meet and has often described itself as the “Ibiza of the Alps”. It is now clear that more than 800 cases spread across Austria can be traced back to the resort and the surrounding Paznaun Valley.

In February and early March the virus found a breeding ground in crowded apres-ski bars. Hundreds of foreign tourists were infected in Ischgl and then unwittingly took the virus home with them.

“We will question developments of the past years and, where necessary, make corrections,” Ischgl Mayor Werner Kurz said in a statement issued by the tourism authority for his town and the Paznaun Valley, which on Thursday came out of a quarantine imposed on March 13.

Kurz said the town’s image as a party destination was unfair because that was just a small part of its offering, but he said he would work with local businesses to make changes.