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Traders, hotels and restaurants in mountainous tourist areas account for up to 30 percent of their sales at the end of the year, and new restrictions could further tighten an already difficult year.
The entire economic structure around mountain sports is suffering a sharp decline in the number of visitors. According to the mountain tourism expert Laurent Vanat, the sector generates 5 billion francs a year. That corresponds to 1 percent of Swiss GDP. “In cantons like Valais and Graubünden, however, this proportion rises to 11 percent,” says Vanat. He estimates that 100,000 people in Switzerland are employed in mountain tourism.
However, Switzerland fell out of favor in Europe a few weeks ago because it did not order the closure of ski areas. Meanwhile, hospitals, including Gregor Zünd, director of the Zurich University Hospital, are calling for the closure of “cultural and sports facilities throughout Switzerland.” As a result, tensions rise in ski areas, which already suffered considerable losses in spring.
Already weakened ski areas
Ski areas, on the other hand, hope to remain open. Even without another closure, the winter of 2020 would be difficult, with restricted opening hours for bars and restaurants and limited use of the facilities, as Bruno Huggler, director of the Crans-Montana tourist office says: “There will definitely be a shortfall” .
Also in Zermatt, people fear imminent losses. “Virtually all jobs in the town depend on tourism,” says Simona Altwegg, communications chief for the local tourism office. So everyone is affected by the decrease in the number of visitors, especially those who receive many foreign guests.
In April alone, overnight stays fell 99.5 percent to a record low compared to the previous year. “Every year tourism in Zermatt generates an added value of around 800 million Swiss francs. So a month-long loss has a significant impact, ”says Altwegg. Therefore, the city expects a decrease in sales of 20 to 30 percent this winter compared to the previous year.
The resorts of Villars and Saas-Fee also face the same difficulties. It is not yet aware of any bankruptcies at the ski resorts, says Joel Bieler, spokesman for the Saas Fee tourism office: “But a second lockdown of course could lead to that. Enrique Caballero, president of the Portes du Soleil ski area, expects a significant drop in sales in 2020-2021. “But it is difficult to predict the exact amount.”
