Ejercicio Option 2 - Question 3 · Inglés PAU Cantabria Extraordinaria 2022

Italian Ski Resorts Get Ready To Open After Two Seasons Lost To Covid

Enrico Rossi, vice-president of Bardonecchia’s tourism consortium, was among the protesters when the Italian government decided in February to maintain a Covid shutdown on ski resorts just hours before the slopes were due to reopen. Rossi described the decision as a tragedy for his small town, especially after the 2020 season had also been cut short. But as the resort prepares to reopen in early December, he is cautiously optimistic. “Three times last year we prepared the slopes and hired staff only for it all to get cancelled. It was very disappointing. But this year’s prospects are looking good. Bookings are coming in, mainly from Italy, and the pandemic situation is different”.

Some Italian ski slopes have already opened with the requirement to present the Covid-19 health pass when using ski lifts and social-distancing measures in place. Face masks must be worn in “common areas” as part of the protocols agreed by the Italian ski industry. “Customers aren’t complaining – the desire to ski is greater than the annoyance of having to follow the rules”, said Herbert Tovagliari, president of Cervinia Spa, a travel and tourism company. The ski season is a huge financial resource for Italy and many villages depend on it for survival. The economic cost to the sector of the shutdown last year was estimated at €10 billion.

Ski resorts in Piedmont’s Lanzo valley are yet to see any snow. Livio Barello, president of the area’s tourism operators, hopes that will change as resorts across the valley prepare to open in early December. “We’ll need years to recuperate the economic losses from the last couple of seasons, but the signs are very positive”. He works in Viù, a town of about 1,000 inhabitants, where businesses benefitted from a Piedmont region-wide holiday initiative that offered visitors three nights for the price of one. “Everything revolves around tourism, it’s the soul of the economy”, said Barello.

When the ski season was cancelled last year, the mayor of Sestriere feared the village of just over 900 inhabitants in the Susa valley would turn into a ghost town; before the pandemic the population would swell to 20,000 a day during the ski period. Today, the mayor is feeling happier. “The atmosphere is much better this year”, he said. “Despite the numerous obstacles we face, we’re working hard and we have a plan to reopen safely. The Covid rules are still there, but these must be respected so that the season can properly start”.

The Guardian, 12 November 2021 (Adapted)

Question 3: [1.5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1.5 points.

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