Funparks spoils the pleasure of mountain bikers – SonntagsZeitung



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An "incomparable panorama" praises the site of Flumserberg SG. And keeps his word: majestically the tower of Churfirsten in the blue of Walensee. But most guests do not have eyes for romance. They sneak into the climbing park, go tobogganing and biking up to the valley, jumping on the giant jumping cushion. Or use another so-called "fun guarantor".

"It was a strategic decision to activate the summer," says Heinrich Michel, CEO of Bergbahnen Flumserberg. For ten years, the offer of recreational attractions is constantly expanded. "In the best case we create a crowd extractor, for the extra visitor arrives."

Expects more and more destinations, such as a new survey of Mountain Wilderness shows. The alpine conservation organization has searched 193 funeral parks in the mountains of all of Switzerland. This includes playgrounds, toboggan runs, rope parks or via ferrata.

"The experience of the mountain, the proximity of nature, everything is lost." Maren Kern, Mountain Wilderness

striking »Increase:« If only 8 installations were built between 1980 and 1990, they were already around 40 between 1990 and 2000 ». At that time, mainly via ferratas, lookouts and toboggan runs were created. "Starting in the year 2000, many rope parks, suspension bridges and playgrounds were built." In total, 130 funeral parks have been added since the early 2000s.

"We think that destinations want to outdo themselves. Mountain Wilderness Chief. He speaks of "furnishing the Alps".

From the "longest zip line" to the "highest toboggan run"

Attractions come in all their forms. Schilthorn "in the vertical walls", according to the website "pure thrill". On the Titlis, you glide on the glacier during snowtubing, "the Magic Carpet Conveyor will summon you in no time". And the Forest Fun Park climbing course in Zermatt VS promises an "adrenaline filled experience".

"Everything revolves around the kick. The experience of the mountains, peace, proximity to nature, confrontation with the environment, everything is lost, "says Kern. Funparks would create replaceable experiences. "Just as you can have them in the Europa Park, the mountain is no longer in the center." Kern also criticizes the interference with nature: "Such facilities bring crowds of guests to places where it was previously quiet."

the attractions are crowded towards virgin fields, always higher. Before the turn of the millennium, 9 units exceeded 2,000 meters above sea level. Since then, 37 have been added.

The "great years of winter tourism" are over

"As on the shelves of major distributors, we also have an abundant supply in the industry of tourism and recreation", says Stefan Forster Development at the University of Applied Sciences Zurich. "To attract attention and be" bought ", you have to stand out from others with so-called promises of adventure and superlatives."

Hoch-Ybrig SZ praises the "longest zip line" in Europe. Bettmeralp is home to the highest rope park in Switzerland. The Glacier 3000 mountain resort near Gstaad BE offers two records: The Alpine Coaster is "the highest toboggan run in the world". The Tissot Peak Walk is the "world's first suspension bridge connecting two peaks".

For Forster, the motivation behind these offers is clear: "In Alpine tourism, it is crucial that destinations and lifts invest in the summer. The "great years of winter tourism" are over, growth opportunities can be observed in the summer. "It's a lot more about the staging of the mountain," says Forster.

"You have to find new target groups, too, thanks to the attractions of the climbing tower at the scooter descent." Andreas Keller, spokesperson for SBS

There is one year 21.2 million first steps in Swiss ski resorts. "The lowest value in more than 25 years", as indicated by the Swiss cable car (SBS) in a report. passenger transportation revenue in winter decreased by 25% .The summer has been very different, with an increase of 75%.

"The trend in the increase of the share of l 39; summer should continue, "said SBS spokesman Andreas Keller, although winter still accounts for most of the yield." However, more and more railways are concentrating more and more. in addition to the summer to better utilize capital-intensive rail facilities throughout the year and reduce the has heavy winter load. "It's not enough to attract only classic hikers. "You have to find new audiences, too, thanks to the attractions of the climbing tower at the scooter descent," says Keller.He emphasizes that nature is not overworked, all the more so that very strict licensing requirements apply in Switzerland. "New offers are available directly at mountain resorts or restaurants. So, where there are already facilities and tourists, and not in remote places.

Visitors from abroad want to adventure

Tourists are very attached to the Alps 21,500 people shows. Most of them appreciate the offers for families and recreation in this country. The third travel argument was followed by the mountains. There were big differences according to the origin: every second Swiss makes hiking during the holidays, but only a third of foreigners. They prefer to do "adventure sport", where the quota was five times higher than for the Swiss.

"A mountain experience has different meanings for different groups," says Markus Berger of Switzerland Tourism. "Swiss loves pure nature, and even though customers in distant markets are looking for it, they like it better and need some infrastructure." Funparks would have something positive, "because every guest can do the same. Experience of the mountains as he wants, "says Berger.


Enlarge the picture

New offers are already planned. From September, "a new superlative railway will operate on the Klein Matterhorn and transport up to 2000 passengers per hour." This year, a zip line descends the Bernina Pass into the valley. above Walen Lake, a Heidi world is planned for 100 million people, which will attract 200,000 visitors a year.

"Relatively strict legal regulations apply to radio installations in the mountains," says Dr. Lawyer Michael Bütler: "Unfortunately, municipalities and cantons often make waves of demands without implementing the applicable landscape protection." The economic interests of the mountain railways would be weighed too heavily by the authorities, criticized Mr. Bütler, who has lodged a complaint against several projects. "In most cases, the subsequent use will be followed by additional use." In addition, due to the lack of Restoration obligations, it is often difficult to know what would happen to the facilities if guests stayed away. "There is a risk that they will rust for eternity." (SonntagsZeitung)

Date created: 21.07.2018, 19:34

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