Diljá Ámundadóttir, chair of Reykjavík City’s sports and leisure council, confirmed yesterday that the idea to close the ski resort in Mt. Bláfjöll temporarily has been considered as part of the city’s savings measures.
From the ski resort in Bláfjöll. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Mayor of Reykjavík Jón Gnarr mentioned the idea in an interview on news magazine Kastljós on Monday, reasoning that so-called luxury in the city’s operations might have to be downsized to secure basic services, ruv.is reports.
Ámundadóttir said that closing the Bláfjöll ski resort for one or two years is among many ideas mentioned as part of the savings measures discussions. However, nothing has been decided yet, she stressed.
Operating the ski resort costs ISK 87 million (USD 780,000, EUR 564,000) every winter. Last year there were only five days with enough snow to open the slopes, while 40 employees received full salaries from January until April.
Ámundadóttir said it isn’t unusual for people to think about whether the city can afford another such winter.
Meanwhile, it has snowed in Bláfjöll and most slopes are ready for skiing. Approximately 200 children and teenagers were at practice yesterday using the disk lift and the goal is to open the chair lifts and children’s lift today, Morgunbladid reports.
According to visir.is, the board of the Reykjavík Ski Council urges Gnarr not to close the Bláfjöll ski resort as part of the city’s savings measures.
