Traveling Close to Home: Slow Tourism Put to the Test in the Canton of Vaud

By covering 533 km around the canton of Vaud in thirteen days, walkers show that a sense of escape can be found just a few kilometers away. The experience sheds light on the opportunities and limits of slow tourism in Switzerland.

In thirteen days, Philippe Doffey and his companions walked the Via Valdensis, a route of 533 kilometers that circles the canton of Vaud. Their hike reveals how a familiar territory can feel exotic when you slow down: little-known villages, forests, fields of daffodils on the Pléiades, and even a water wheel near Yverdon, an unexpected discovery the group commented on as follows: “If we were in Thailand, we’d take a two-hour bus ride to go see it.”

What is slow tourism?

Slow tourism refers to a way of traveling that favors slowness, proximity, local discovery and low-impact modes of transport (on foot, by bike, by train or by water). It aims for disconnection, immersion in landscapes and local culture, and a form of tourism that is more respectful of the environment and of local communities.

Public authorities today support initiatives in this direction: in France, a call for projects with a budget of €4.7 million backed 73 projects; in Switzerland, programs like Innotour subsidize projects that promote sustainability and soft mobility.

Why “far” is a social construct

Anthropologist Saskia Cousin (University Paris Nanterre), a specialist in tourism, reminds us that linking travel with distance is largely cultural. Changes in transport have redefined what we perceive as “far”: what took a day’s walk a century and a half ago can now be covered in a few hours. Narratives, images and now social networks feed an imagination that values distant exoticism.

“The relationship to remoteness is highly socially constructed” — Saskia Cousin

What slowing down changes in the experience

Slowing down changes how we perceive a place. Walking engages the body, awakens the senses and encourages introspection: smells, landscapes and memories emerge. For example: Eric, a 60-year-old entrepreneur who joined the group for a few days, was moved by the scent of the daffodils on the Pléiades, an echo of childhood and an emotional moment. The duration and itinerant nature of the trip also facilitate exchanges and the creation of deeper bonds among participants.

The social limits of slow tourism

Slow tourism remains partly a privilege. The tour of the canton of Vaud led by Philippe Doffey brought together people with time, good physical condition (among them Doffey is retired and a former marathoner) and prior travel experience. Saskia Cousin points out that worldwide, millions of people walk out of necessity rather than leisure. Choosing slowness after having traveled a lot is not the same as never having had the opportunity to leave.

Economic dimension and the role of public policy in Switzerland

Slow tourism presents local economic opportunities. According to Mireille Corger-Lattion (Innotour), this approach encourages visitors to consume local products and services, benefiting SMEs, artisans, producers, guides and cultural organizations. Switzerland has significant assets: preserved landscapes, heritage, and a dense network of mobility and hiking trails — more than 65,000 kilometers of paths, which support the development of slow and sustainable offerings.

“You don’t necessarily need a ten-hour flight to experience wonderful moments and great discoveries” — Philippe Doffey

The Confederation supports this transformation: Innotour can finance up to 50% of selected project budgets, and around 70% of supported projects contribute to sustainability. Labels such as Swisstainable and the “Travel Better” strategy aim to steer demand toward responsible practices and actors. The new federal tourism strategy is due to be approved in early 2027.

Concrete effects and supported projects

• Promotion of natural parks and development of sustainable tourism offers within territories.
• Local initiatives, such as the creation of a “Slow Destination” in Morges, highlighting nature, gastronomy and culture.
• Work on soft mobility, in collaboration with the Federal Office of Transport, to better connect peripheral areas.

Practices and infrastructure linked to slow tourism

Slow tourism is practiced on foot, by bicycle (cycle routes and EuroVelo), by train or by waterways. In Europe, the EuroVelo network (number of routes and kilometers covered) is an example of infrastructure that encourages slow crossings; in France, cycle routes and greenways often reuse towpaths, old railway lines or forest roads to create safe and attractive itineraries.

Our view

The Via Valdensis and the tour of the canton of Vaud recounted by the group of walkers show, on a small scale, the strengths and limits of slow tourism. The 533 km itinerary over thirteen days offers a sense of escape without flying: chance encounters, rediscovery of familiar places, intensified sensations and memories. But it also highlights the time and physical effort required for this type of travel.

This example shows the conditions for a plausible transition: in Switzerland, a dense trail network (more than 65,000 km), strong valuation of natural heritage, public initiatives (Innotour, Swisstainable) and local projects (Slow Destination in Morges) provide a favorable ecosystem.

But the transformation requires coherence and support — effective soft mobility, suitable accommodation offers, training for local stakeholders and targeted communication to attract visitors to the right place at the right time. Without these levers, slow tourism risks remaining a niche for insiders.