'Holidaymaker Fees Must Benefit Everyone': Switzerland Tourism

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Charging entrance fees at popular Swiss holiday hotspots only makes sense if overseas guests also gain from the levy, says the Swiss tourism industry.

• Português pt Taxas para turistas devem beneficiar a todos Read more: Taxas para turistas devem beneficiar a todos

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The idyllic village of Lauterbrunnen is considering a Venice-style entry charge to ease overtourism. The village is frequently brought to a standstill by waves of tourists keen to soak in its natural beauty and tranquility.

“As long as the measure also benefits the guest, it is accepted and even appreciated,” Markus Brenner, spokesperson for Switzerland Tourism, told Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

This content was published on May 16, 2024 Lauterbrunnen, with its Instagram-friendly Alpine waterfalls and cliffs, is a victim of overtourism. It is now considering whether to follow Venice and start charging day-trippers for access.

“When I go to Lauterbrunnen, I know that I will have to pay the fee, but I will definitely find a parking space. I also know that the number of guests in the valley is limited.”

“It must also be understandable for guests, and clear what they will receive in return.”

Brenner says overtourism in Switzerland is confined to specific locations at certain times of the year. He dismissed the suggestion that the country is constantly over-run with tourists and called on locals to show tolerance.

“We are all used to a certain amount of pressure – for example in the morning on the tram, at the weekend when shopping or in rush hour traffic in the car,” he said.

+“Like employees in a theme park”: Swiss overtourism

“The question now is how to deal with it.”

Lauterbrunnen, in the Bernese Oberland, is not the only tourist hotspot to feel a victim of its own tourism success.

The nearby lakeside village of Iseltwald was brought to a standstill a couple of years ago by an unexpected
influx
of fans of Netflix series
Crash Landing on You.

The spectacular Äscher-Wildkirchli guest house in Alpstein, canton Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Ticino's Verzasca valley and the city of Lucerne are also feeling the crush.

Switzerland Tourism is trying to ease the burden by advising people from separate countries to arrive at different times of the year if possible.

Places like Venice or Barcelona, and destinations in the Swiss Alps, are struggling with an influx of tourists. What to do?

“With a good mix of guests from different markets of origin, we can help ensure that we have a more balanced tourism burden in Switzerland,” said Brenner.

Adapted from German by DeepL/mga

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• Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen mulls Venice-style tourist entry charge
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