Skifields in the northern hemisphere were forced to shut this week, and chances are it could happen here this winter.
Management of the five main southern skifields — Cardrona, Treble Cone, Coronet Peak, Remarkables and Mt Hutt — acknowledged on Wednesday they might not be allowed to open.
Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone skifield general manager Bridget Legnavsky said that would be the worst-case scenario.
"Hopefully, in three or four months time, we’ll be out of that."
NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson said his fields were planning for everything from a "reduced demand season" all the way through to " not being able to open".
"We’re just modelling each eventuality that we can think of, and at the moment we are hoping for the best."
With the start of the season still 12 weeks away, the ski industry was "a little bit fortunate" in having some planning time, he said.
The total economic value to New Zealand of the ski industry is not accurately calculated, although last season there were 1.7million visits to skifields, and a record 1.9million the previous year.
Cardrona and Treble Cone have 50 permanent staff and normally employ about 900 seasonal staff from June.
Many come from overseas and are making travel and accommodation arrangements while waiting for word about jobs.
German ski instructor Daniel Kemner said he was at home saving money to return to Wanaka for winter, but his trip was in doubt.
" I got contacts in the tourism industry all over the world to get work but right now with corona that’s all not going to work."
Australian Sarah Wakefield was also uncertain.
"This winter is going to be a struggle and job opportunities will probably be harder to come by for us.
"We just have to ride the wave and make a last-minute decision on what’s safe for everyone."
Canadian Zack Fowler was sticking with plans to travel to Wanaka, hoping the virus situation was better in New Zealand than at home.
"We just hope to stay in Wanaka and stay cautious."
But J’Adoube Elkington, of Wellington, was firm about his plans.
"I’ll still be heading down for the winter.
"Lifts or no lifts, I shred regardless."
Ms Legnavsky advised those looking for jobs "to wait a little bit".
"Just keep talking; keep communicating clearly with their employers."
She and her staff were "100% focused" on the virus issue.
"It is very, very complex.
"We’ve got not only a business to run but also a community of people and a wider community in Queenstown and Wanaka to think about and consider."
Mr Anderson said NZSki had a "reasonably high" level of returning staff so would be putting a hold on new recruitment "for now".
"Even in the best case scenario, visitation numbers will be down significantly so we want to make sure we are not making offers in the market that we can’t honour."
Meanwhile, the Southern District Health Board advised Wayfare, the owner of Real Journeys, on Wednesday night to ask the company to contact "a number" of TSS Earnslaw passengers and Walter Peak staff after a guest who dined at Walter Peak more than a week ago was recently diagnosed with coronavirus in Australia.
In a statement, corporate communications manager Tsehai Tiffin said the guest was part of a private function, which had exclusive use of the boat and the restaurant.
Precautionary self-isolating procedures had been put in place and those staff working on the night concerned had gone into monitored self-isolation.
"We are assured by the SDHB that the likelihood of the virus spreading in these circumstances is low and the event was over a week ago, but our priority and thoughts are with the guests and staff who were at the function."
