02:25France: Hundreds protest coronavirus closure of ski lifts
Hundreds of demonstrators held a protest in Bourg-St-Maurice on Wednesday, to demand the opening of ski lifts during the festive period.
Due to fears over the spread of coronavirus, French authorities have ordered all ski stations to close their ski tracks during the Christmas period.
The closure is viewed as unjust by many French resorts as neighbouring ski trails in Spain and Switzerland will likely attract French clientele.
"We are all very bitter," said Benjamin Dubois, technical manager at a skiing school.
"We are willing to make sacrifices but we must not be taken for fools. We are seeing everyone going on holidays, in that case, let them come to our mountains because they are going to be safe," he added.
On Wednesday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a seven-day quarantine for French nationals returning from a ski trip abroad, in a bid to dissuade citizens from doing so.
02:25Hundreds of demonstrators held a protest in Bourg-St-Maurice on Wednesday, to demand the opening of ski lifts during the festive period.
Due to fears over the spread of coronavirus, French authorities have ordered all ski stations to close their ski tracks during the Christmas period.
The closure is viewed as unjust by many French resorts as neighbouring ski trails in Spain and Switzerland will likely attract French clientele.
"We are all very bitter," said Benjamin Dubois, technical manager at a skiing school.
"We are willing to make sacrifices but we must not be taken for fools. We are seeing everyone going on holidays, in that case, let them come to our mountains because they are going to be safe," he added.
On Wednesday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced a seven-day quarantine for French nationals returning from a ski trip abroad, in a bid to dissuade citizens from doing so.