Siberian ski resort hopes to attract locals cut off from the Alps by travel restrictions

FILE PHOTO: Luge - 2020 FIL World Luge Championships - Qualification Sprint Men's Singles - Sliding Center Sanki, Sochi, Russia - February 14, 2020 General view of a skier on a ski lift during the Qualification Sprint Men's Singles REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

SHEREGESH, Russia (Reuters) - A Siberian ski resort is aiming to replace the Alps as Russians' preferred winter holiday destination this season as travel to many countries remains forbidden because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sheregesh ski resort, located in the Kemerovo region some 3,225 kilometres (2,004 miles) east of Moscow, kicked off its season last week, with officials making face masks mandatory on all ski lifts.