At the 3rd Schweizer Wandergipfel on 1–2 September in Saanen, around 120 specialists debated managing tourist flows in the mountains to preserve the quality of experience and the natural environment.
A summit dedicated to visitor numbers and the quality of stays
On 1–2 September, the 3rd Schweizer Wandergipfel brought together around 120 professionals from tourism, mobility, planning and leisure in Saanen.
The discussions focused on how to <strong reconcile economic interests and the expectations of different users, as some sites are suffering from queues, saturated infrastructure and litter along the trails.
Key topics and speakers
- Visitor guidance and cooperation between tourist offices, infrastructure operators and nature conservation, discussed by Michael Roschi (president of Verein Schweizer Wandergipfel).
- Redefining the meaning of “living the mountain”, highlighted by Christoph Engl (CEO of Oberalp Group), around values such as community, simplicity and mindful appreciation of nature.
- Impact of Verbundpässe (e.g. Magic Pass) presented by Sébastien Travelletti (CEO of Magic Mountains Cooperation): an opportunity for year‑round offers but also a source of pressure on infrastructure and the environment, as noted by Bettina Hübscher (Sportbahnen Melchsee‑Frutt).
Visitor management is no longer a marketing task, but a management responsibility.
Additional topics
Workshops covered hiking events, safety, prevention and risk communication, coexistence between hikers and mountain bikers, trail planning, and the position of outdoor brands between growth and respect for nature.
The Verein Schweizer Wandergipfel, founded in 2022 by the Verband Schweizer Wanderwege and Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus, organises this biennial event.
Source: htr.ch