Two-thirds of them postpone the winter sports holiday for a while: who goes chooses France

VAB, in cooperation with Ipsos, questioned 2,000 Flemish people from the end of November to the beginning of December.

A quarter of Flemish people who had been doing winter sports regularly before COVID-19 say they are really looking forward to it this year, because it has been so long. However, a large percentage of winter sports enthusiasts are not yet sure if they will go now, just in the fourth wave: 68 percent of regular winter sports enthusiasts are postponing their vacation for the time being.

Read also. Austria is quickly changing the rules for entering the country before the ski season begins: the booster shot is mandatory, the alternative is quarantine

Most Flemish people who go skiing this winter choose Austria (39 percent). Over the Christmas holidays, France became the most popular destination with 39 percent, compared to 27 percent for Austria. VAB sees as a possible explanation that you can ski in France with a COVID Safe Pass and that Corona measures in Austria are more stringent (2G policy, vaccination certificate valid only for 9 months, Janssen vaccine will not be accepted from January 3rd).

A winter sports holiday is basically a holiday by car: 7 out of 10 Flemish people go to a winter sports destination by car. However, only 1 in 2 Fleming, who will definitely take part in winter sports this winter, indicate that they have winter tires at their disposal. Since November 1, it has been mandatory in mountainous regions of France to drive on winter tires or carry snow chains in a car between November 1 and March 31. In many winter sports or other cross country, winter tires have been mandatory for some time, VAB notes.