The ski resorts operated by the TMR company are preparing themselves for winter. In addition to regular technical preparation, they are paying great attention to new precautions.
After Slovak Prime Minister Igor Matovič announced the community testing plan, the resorts suggest creating antigen testing stations in ski resorts and tourist regions. “For a few months already, we have been preparing ourselves for winter not only technically but also as for precautions. In addition to antibacterial films on surfaces, new disinfection devices and special entrance corridors, we are ready to join the free antigen testing as well. However, this requires close cooperation in the region because tourists always use several services in the valley – cable cars, hotels, restaurants etc. Our aim is to offer a maximum level of safety as a complex to our resort visitors,” informed Dušan Slavkovský, the general manager of ski resorts in the High Tatras.
“The testing stations should be established in the regions of Liptov, the High Tatras and Horehronie. In association with the state, local governments, regional tourism organisations as well as other tourism entities such as hotels and other services, we could create a system to guarantee safe skiing holidays. The testing stations should probably operate every day and serve their purpose in times when the epidemic situation requires so or when agreed on with authorised hygienists. In this way, we could achieve that tourist regions are full of clients with negative tests,” said Igor Mráz, the general manager of the Jasná ski resort.
The operator of the mountain resorts and a hotel network points out that the testing and checking of valid certificates would have to apply to guests of hotels and accommodation establishments in the whole region too. “We are an active member of several regional tourism organisations and have to think not only of TMR facilities but also of various small and medium-sized businesses for which the winter season is the crucial period. And with the suggested system, we could also consider granting an exception to hotel and guest house restaurant interiors without forcing the guests staying there to have breakfast on snow-covered terraces. We are hereby inviting the Prime Minister to discuss this issue actively and look for solutions for tourist regions and ski resorts. The ski season begins in 3 weeks in early December and thousands of people who work in the field of tourism need to know what to expect,” added Igor Rattaj, the Chairman of the Board of Directors at TMR.