Lucerne targets tourists with new business venture

Lucerne is hoping to attract more tourists with the launch of a new company responsible for promoting the city abroad. Luzern Tourismus AG is intending to make the city a better-known destination.

A key aim of the new company is to attract individual tourists to Lucerne. At the moment, most of the city’s visitors come in organised groups or on business trips.

The company hopes to be up and running at the latest at the beginning of next year.

Luzern Tourismus AG is a joint venture between the city’s transport and hotel associations, which will each have a 25 per cent stake in the new company. The current business activities of Lucerne’s transport association will be integrated into the new company.

Other big firms should acquire 40 per cent of the shares, while ten per cent will be reserved for small investors.

The new venture will be financed through contributions from other companies in the tourism sector and through public funds that previously went to the transport network.

The name Lucerne will also be registered as a brand name and anyone wishing to use it for commercial purposes will be charged.

swissinfo with agencies