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Once a year, the crème de la crème of business and politics arrives in droves at Davos GR. Once a year the region is cordoned off by the police and the army. The World Economic Forum takes place once a year.
That is every January. Next year, however, the event will be held late due to Corona. The WEF has been postponed, until an as yet unknown date in early summer.
But worse for Davos: the meeting will most likely not take place in the city of Grisons at more than 1500 meters above sea level. WEF managers are looking for an alternative location. This stems from a letter to the local hotel operator reported by “Südostschweiz” today.
Fear for safety
The letter is signed by the founder of the WEF, Klaus Schwab (82). Schwab agrees, among other things, that most of the hotels in Davos and Klosters closed in the early summer.
Reto Branschi, executive director of the Davos Tourism Organization, confirms the content of the letter. WEF director Alois Zwinggi briefed him on the matter by phone, he says. “As things stand today, WEF 2021 in Davos will sadly be canceled entirely,” says Branschi.
Branschi had long hoped that the annual meeting in 2021 could take place in Davos at a later date. At the same time, he was aware: “It is difficult to guarantee the necessary police security with police forces outside the canton at this time. In January, the starting position is completely different. “
Geneva, Zurich or New York?
The region must now expect total failure. It is the worst conceivable scenario for the hotel industry in Davos and Klosters GR. Because the WEF has always been a guarantee for crowded rooms and cash registers.
Who comes to kiss the hand now? Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Geneva? After all, the headquarters of the WEF is in the canton of Geneva. Or is it a location outside of Switzerland? The WEF also has offices in San Francisco, New York, Beijing and Tokyo.
A corresponding request from BLICK to the WEF has so far not received a response. (ise)