In Switzerland, this ski season has been disappointing, particularly if you have school aged children. During the Vaud school holiday this season, the fourth week of February, there was limited snow. Even at high resorts like Verbier, snow conditions were fairly average across the week. The week before there was good snow. But then everyone was still at school. A two-week school holiday in February would increase the chances of striking good snow.
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Vaud national councillor, Isabelle Moret (PLR/FDP), would like to see a study commissioned to explore the feasibility of a two-week holiday in February.
The ski resorts have responded positively to the idea. “It’s an excellent idea”, said Pierre Besson, director of Télé Villars-Gryon-Diablerets. “The more we extend the holiday period in February the better it will be for our resorts.”
Michel Bertholet, director of Télé-Château-d’Œx SA said: “A two week holiday would help us, especially in February, which is the best period for the region. Snow conditions at Christmas are unreliable, and Easter is not a key time for our resort which sits at a medium altitude.”
“The idea is very good and positive in the sense that it could attract families for longer stays” said Didier Oppliger, the new director of the Tourist Association of Aigle-Leysin-Col des Mosses. On the other hand, he thinks “It could be difficult to put in place, especially if it risks overloading resorts. There are already school ski trips around this period. An extra week between February and Easter would be ideal…”
Tourism director of Pays-d’Enhaut Tourism Frédéric Delachaux, said “It won’t hurt to complete the study, but a two week holiday might not motivate people to come and spend their holiday in the Vaud Alps. It might tempt them to the Maldives instead…”
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