This is how Swiss hotspots are successfully mitigating mass tourism

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Tourists are welcomed as they create jobs, bring prosperity and revitalize entire valleys or cities. But if too many guests come, the mood changes in some segments of the local population. Congested roads, housing shortages and environmental degradation are just some of the problems tourist crowds can bring to the areas.

This is known from cities such as Venice (Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia) or Barcelona (Spain), and also, to a lesser extent, from Switzerland. Especially in Lucerne and Interlaken BE, the tourist crowds have created dissatisfaction for years. Due to the ongoing revival in tourism, such discussions among the public are gaining momentum again.

Bernese and Lucerne defend themselves

Until the outbreak of the pandemic, many Lucerne residents were plagued by the large number of buses packed with day-trippers and short-stayers, clogging the old town and leading to a growing number of holiday apartments. Therefore, they voted in March to allow apartments to be rented for short stays, up to 90 days per year. In Bern, the city population decided last year that not all apartments in old townhouses can be offered commercially as holiday apartments.

Since last year, the two cities have stopped advertising in long-distance markets where the majority of tour groups come from. However, this is not well received in some parts of the hotel industry. This lacks the understanding that you want to do without certain groups of guests anymore after the tough Corona years. «Many excursion railways and hotels have adjusted their capacities to suit a large number of guests. Monika Bandi Tanner, 40, co-head of the University of Bern Tourism Research Center, says that no one who invests heavily in new infrastructure can completely change product design in a short time.

However, the hotel industry is not completely dormant: Many companies only offer their rooms for minimal stays. This might give you some peace of mind.

Cities underestimate problems

The governments of several Swiss cities have long underestimated the extent of the second home problem: current figures from the Federal Office of Spatial Planning show that Geneva has a 19.5 percent share of second homes. st. Gallen, 15.5 percent. It is between 11.4 and 14.6 percent in Lucerne, Basel, Lausanne VD and Lugano TI, Biel BE and Berne.

In the city of Zurich, where the housing shortage is most severe, this rate is almost 10 percent. Business is developing with business apartments and holiday homes. As with international tourism hotspots, local owners can optimize their returns this way. But conditions like in Venice are still far away. There, Airbnb offerings severely depopulated the old center.

A problem that those who live in mountain tourism areas like Engadin GR or destinations like Zermatt VS are also familiar with: there is a lack of primary housing everywhere. According to the Second Home Act, apartments built before 2012 can still be converted into holiday apartments. This is usually much more profitable for the owners. The municipality is trying to counter this by promoting first homes.

Opportunity and danger for tourism destinations

The increasing number of daily tourists in Zermatt has always been an emotional issue. Asian guests who go to the venue for Matterhorn selfie mainly earn income from the sightseeing train to Gornergrat or from souvenir shops and some group stays. Many hotels and restaurants benefit much more from other guest groups.

For Monika Bandi Tanner, the mix is ​​crucial: “The long-distance markets with group business allow the destination to strive for operation throughout the year. Thus, you will help to evaluate the tourism potential. But too many guests can jeopardize tourism.” Tourist points are responsible for the number of guests and their behavior in harmony with the person, place and environment. But it’s important to have these discussions, according to Bandi Tanner.

The Zermatt Bergbahnen is trying to strike the balance: in the summer they open a new touring railway and link to Italy via the Alpine Pass, which is intended to attract many day visitors. At the same time, its offers encourage guests to stay longer.

Source :Blick