Decision on ski hosting in France delayed till summer
Tour operators will have to wait until July to find out whether they will be allowed to resume popular ski hosting services in French resorts after a Court of Appeals in France deferred a hearing due to take place today.
The case was due to be considered by a court in the French town of Chambery but the ESF French ski school, which claims ski hosting by UK opertors is illegal, asked for more time to prepare.
A French court ruled last year that only fully qualified snow sports instructors are allowed to guide skiers around the slopes, forcing British tour operators to suspend their social skiing days where unqualified resort staff would join clients for a morning or afternoon skiing to help them find their way around.
However, ski specialist Le Ski – whose staff were arrested and successfully prosecuted for skiing with guests in the French resort of Courchevel – is appealing against the ruling, backed by 10 UK operators including Crystal, Inghams, Thomson and Neilson.
Le Ski submitted to the Court of Appeals a details written defence in which it claims that French regulations banning ski hosting are discriminatory as all French civil servants and teachers established in France are exempt from any qualification requirement.
The ESF has requested more time to consider the legal arguments and European case law on which Le Ski’s defence is based.
"Given the serious implications of the outcome of this case, and in the interest of a through legal debate, we have agreed to a deferral," said a statement issued on behalf of Le Ski managing director Nick Morgan.
The case will now be heard on July 2.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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