Le Ski to appeal against French resort ban
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Tour operator Le Ski has said it will appeal against a French court that said its representatives could not hold tours on its ski slopes.
The Huddersfield-based company believes the ruling is against European Union law and is to take its case to the Court of Appeals.
“We are disappointed, but not surprised, that the local court have found us to be in breach of the law concerning ski instructing,” said Nick Morgan, managing director at Le Ski. “The ski hosting service posed no safety threat and to suggest so is disingenuous. The action has been taken against us and the tour operator community on protectionist grounds.”
He said the popular service had been operating for 30 years and that guest habits would see “more time looking at their piste maps” than ask ESF ski instructors to show them around resorts.
Ski school ESF has backed the ban on British reps in France and been awarded damages by the Albertville court for loss of earnings.
Le Ski has been singled out after one of its representatives was questioned by police in Meribel and told his tour was illegal.
If the appeal is unsuccessful thousands of Brits could lose their ski hosting jobs and has raised concerns with other tour operators. Some companies, such as Club Med, will remain unaffected by the ban as they use ESF instructors.
