Swiss village bids to introduce Venice-style entry payment for vacationers
A Swiss mountain village is set to introduce a Venice-style entry fee for holidaymakers after becoming overwhelmed with tourists.
Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland has seen a surge in tourism in the warmer months, with some visitors only staying for a day and contributing little to the economy.
Meanwhile, traffic is also reaching maximum capacity in the village, while locals have also made claims of indecent behaviour by guests, local media reported.
It comes after Venice was rocked by violent clashes last month between police and protesters rallying against the contentious new ‘tourist tax’ on short stay visitors.
Demonstrators armed with signs and banners lined the historic canals and narrow alleyways of the Italian city to show their contempt for the unique new policy aimed at clamping down on overtourism in busy periods.
Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland (pictured) has seen a surge in tourism in the warmer months
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, in the summer months
The Jungfrau sits high above Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland
Critics said the €5 (£4.30) fee, which was in effect in Venice until May 5, and on weekends until July 14, was unlikely to put a significant dent in the circa 30 million trips made to Venice each year.
Lauterbrunnen is also now considering an entry price of between five and ten francs (£4.33), with day tourists arriving by car also having to pay this.
Mayor Karl Näpflin said: ‘The exception would be guests who have booked an offer such as a hotel or an excursion or who arrive by public transport.’
It might take a while for the fee to come into force in Lauterbrunnen as clarifications are ongoing.
Despite pleas from residents groups to rethink the scheme, Venice last month become the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-tripper tourists, aimed at reducing the number of short-stay visitors who cause unmanageable congestion in peak times.
The so-called ‘tourist tax’ has been controversial, with several residents’ committees and associations planning protests to coincide with the launch in Italy.
Large crowds gathered with colourful banners in marches against the move.
Reps argued the fee would not fix the fundamental issues but only cloud the city’s public image.
