“Arbitrary and inappropriate”: Cantons tear up Parmelin’s ‘Sunday shopping’ plans

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Cantons and tourism organizations are putting pressure on Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin (64): after the consultations have expired, they are demanding ‘needs-based tourist zones in Swiss cities’ in which shops can open on Sundays without a permit. The goal: inner cities must be revitalized and the retail sector must be strengthened.

“We must take into account the realities of life and enable a reasonable sales offer,” Zurich Economic Director Carmen Walker Späh (66, FDP) said at a press conference on Monday. But the proposal from Parmelin’s Ministry of Economy, Education and Research (WBF) contains “inappropriate and complicated special rules”, they criticize. Their devastating conclusion: not practical for the economy.

“Unequal treatment of cities and distortion of competition”

For example, the restriction to cities with more than 60,000 inhabitants is “arbitrary and unsuitable for assessing cities that are attractive to tourists,” according to the mayor of Frauenfeld and chairman of the Zurich Metropolitan Conference, Anders Stokholm (57, FDP). It leads to unequal treatment and distortion of competition.

The range limitations proposed by the Federal Council also met with criticism. “If the shopping experience that is important for urban tourism is missing, this will negatively impact the overall attractiveness of a travel destination,” says GLP State Councilor Tiana Angelina Moser (44).

The alliance therefore calls for tourist zones that “enliven city centers and create equal opportunities for urban tourism.” Not only the retail sector, but the entire tourism value chain would benefit from this. There is “huge untapped shopping potential in city centres”, especially among day trippers.

Criticism from all sides

In addition to the cantons of Zurich and Ticino, the City of Zurich, the Metropolitan Conference of Zurich, which also includes the cantons of Aargau, Thurgau, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, St. Gallen, Zug and Lucerne, the Swiss Retail Federation and Hotelleriesuisse support the demands.

The Federal Council’s proposed revision of the labor law on “Sunday work in urban tourist areas” was met with much criticism during the consultations. The opening does not go far enough for the citizens and the cities, the left and trade unions oppose any weakening of the ban on Sunday work.

Exceptions for shopping Sundays would be limited

With the proposal, the WBF wanted to create a requirement that shops “in urban areas with international tourism” can employ employees on Sundays all year round. In English: In Bern, Geneva and Zurich you should also be able to buy the Gucci bag and the Rolex watch on Sundays.

However, the exception would be limited to cities with more than 60,000 inhabitants. In addition, the share of foreign hotel guests should be at least 50 percent. The cantons should identify suitable districts in the cities and limit the sales reach. (oco/SDA)

Source:Blick