The lifts, a closed, restaurants shuttered and bars empty.

Business owners there have seen their earnings slash due to lockdowns, and now they are worried that they might not be ableto welcome skiers back at all.

Or at least not before the snow melts and the season ends.

Restaurant here, Francois Almonte or C A is one of them.

He has lost around 90% of his normal revenue.

Thistle is a catastrophe.

I'm afraid a lot of people will not make it.

This is a very long period despite the financial help, because we still have a chance toe have that help.

But it's not enough.

You cannot fill a season's turnover with financial help.

This is not possible.

Some other European countries, like Switzerland and Spain, have resisted closing all of their resorts to allow people sometime on the slopes.

But France is not one of them.

French ski resorts were stopped from opening their cable cars and lifts at the start of the season.

This drove away the majority of their visitors who come to the slopes for downhill skiing.

The government had discussed the possibility of reopening the lifts in early January, but that plan was squashed after authorities decided it would be premature.

A decision is now due on January 20th.

Matthew D.

Shaven is CEO of a cable car company by Company du Mont Blanc.

Several unions quantified a loss of €1.6 billion.

If we were to close until January 7th, if we have to close until the end of the season, that's going to cost us several billion euros, that's for sure on any other.

Some winter sports enthusiasts have done their best to enjoy the mountains regardless.

But the streets of shame on er unusually quiet and will stay that way until restrictions are lifted.