Tourism in Switzerland

Switzerland is a popular holiday destination, known for its spectacular mountains and lakes, quaint villages and cultural diversity. But behind the idyllic postcard images lie complex questions: how does climate change affect mountain tourism? What consequences does overtourism have for local communities? And who can still afford holidays in expensive Switzerland? Here you will find analyses and background information on Swiss tourism – from its beginnings in the 19th century to the challenges of today.

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism
Tourism and tourism flows
Alpine tourism in transition
Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps
Icons of Swiss tourism
Holidays in Switzerland

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism

Tourists admire the Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in Europe.

What is the future of glacier tourism in a world with less ice?

This content was published on Jul 23, 2025 Climate change puts glacier tourism at risk. How can this vital industry be saved for local communities? Here are some adaptation strategies.

In recent years ski resorts at lower altitudes have had to re-think their tourism offers due to the lack of snow.

Climate change puts Swiss tourism to the test

This content was published on Jul 16, 2025 Climate change threatens tourism in Switzerland – and is partly caused by it. How can the industry become more sustainable?

A crack in a ski lift structure in the Swiss Alps caused by thawing permafrost.

New hope for cable cars and mountain huts threatened by permafrost collapse

This content was published on Jul 16, 2025 A novel scientific solution being developed in Switzerland aims to stabilise mountain infrastructure endangered by climate change.

The Lion of Lucerne rock relief is one of the most photographed tourist spots in Switzerland.

‘Balancing growth and sustainability is the challenge of the century for the tourism sector’

This content was published on Jun 24, 2024 Francisco Betti, co-author of a report on world tourism, firmly believes in the key role of technological progress in making the sector sustainable in the next 20 years.

escaping from the heatwave to the Swiss Alps

Swiss Alps could profit from ‘heat escape’ tourism

This content was published on Oct 14, 2023 Could low-lying Alpine resorts become a heatwave-free haven for summer tourists?

Tourism and tourism flows

Tourists wait with their cars for free parking spaces at the church car park, on Sunday, 19 May 2024 in Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland. The holiday resort of Lauterbrunnen wants to introduce an entrance fee for day tourists travelling by car. Like many other tourist resorts around the world, the municipality in the Bernese Oberland struggles with large streams of tourists.

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

This content was published on Jul 5, 2024 While some see tourism in Switzerland as a welcome boost, others are concerned about too many tourists in certain regions.

Italian-speaking Switzerland is more than just a weekend getaway

This content was published on Jan 9, 2024 Ticino was a holiday haven for the Swiss during the Covid-19 pandemic but is now experiencing a slight downturn.

‘High costs are not prohibitive for premium destination Switzerland’

This content was published on Nov 5, 2023 The president of Switzerland Tourism believes that local authorities are perfectly capable of managing the occasional flow of visitors.

Asian tourists taking photos at the pier in Iseltwald, where Crash Landing on You was filmed.

Fans of Netflix series disrupt peaceful Swiss village

This content was published on Aug 27, 2022 Fans of the South Korean TV series ‘Crash Landing on You’ are flocking to the Bernese village of Iseltwald. Not everyone is as delighted as they are.

Alpine tourism in transition

‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

This content was published on Feb 8, 2025 A section of the Schilthornbahn cableway is the latest example of breathtaking engineering in the Swiss Alps. But how steep is it?

Tensions between Jewish guests and Swiss locals in Davos: an explainer

This content was published on Feb 13, 2024 What’s behind the tensions between locals in the Swiss resort town of Davos and Orthodox Jewish holidaymakers?

Family picture with Lucy Walker, British climber

150 years ago, the first woman conquered the Matterhorn

This content was published on Jul 22, 2021 British climber Lucy Walker reached the peak of the iconic Matterhorn six years after her compatriot Edward Whymper.

What iconic Swiss spots looked like 150 years ago

This content was published on Oct 16, 2019 William England’s Alpine pictures, made using an innovative photographic technique, were a resounding success. Today, they’re being re-created.

tre persone incordate sulla vetta di una montagna innevata

This profession calls for you to put your life at risk

This content was published on Aug 12, 2018 When a fatal accident happens in the mountains, many question the judgement of the guide. swissinfo.ch speaks to one about how to keep safe.

Asian approach to life and skiing

This content was published on Feb 18, 2014 Johnson has become somewhat of a celebrity in the resort due to extensive media coverage, and is constantly greeted by passers-by as he walks down the street. Johnson, a translator as well as a qualified ski instructor, arrived in Switzerland at the beginning of December 2013. It is his first trip abroad. He only started…

Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps

‘The chalet is the first prefab house in history’

This content was published on May 31, 2025 The chalet first conquered the world – and then Switzerland. So why is it considered a quintessentially Swiss building?

The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

This content was published on Apr 22, 2025 Demand from ‘Trump refugees’ for property in the Swiss resort of Andermatt has surged.

The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers

This content was published on Jan 22, 2025 The Swiss Alps are attracting a growing number of investors, prepared to pump hundreds of millions of francs into vast tourist complexes. But at what cost?

Locals driven out by luxury homes in Swiss mountains

This content was published on Mar 14, 2024 Rising property prices in Pontresina, a municipality next to the exclusive resort of St Moritz, are forcing residents to leave the valley.

Tourism in Switzerland

Climate change and sustainability in Swiss tourism

More

What is the future of glacier tourism in a world with less ice?

More

Climate change puts Swiss tourism to the test

More

New hope for cable cars and mountain huts threatened by permafrost collapse

More

‘Balancing growth and sustainability is the challenge of the century for the tourism sector’

More

Swiss Alps could profit from ‘heat escape’ tourism

Tourism and tourism flows

More

Mass tourism in Switzerland: beneficial or detrimental?

More

Italian-speaking Switzerland is more than just a weekend getaway

More

‘High costs are not prohibitive for premium destination Switzerland’

More

Fans of Netflix series disrupt peaceful Swiss village

Alpine tourism in transition

More

‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world

More

Tensions between Jewish guests and Swiss locals in Davos: an explainer

More

150 years ago, the first woman conquered the Matterhorn

More

What iconic Swiss spots looked like 150 years ago

More

This profession calls for you to put your life at risk

More

Asian approach to life and skiing

Holiday homes and living in the Swiss Alps

More

‘The chalet is the first prefab house in history’

More

The Swiss Alps ski village that is luring nervous Americans

More

The Swiss Alps, a new Eldorado for real estate developers

More

Locals driven out by luxury homes in Swiss mountains

Icons of Swiss tourism

Holidays in Switzerland

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