Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
Warmest regards from Bern!
Sports, summer and Swifties – there is something for everyone in today’s briefing.
But first let’s look at the news.
In the news today:
- Swiss insurer braced for CHF75 million storm damage bills: The first half of the year in Switzerland was marked by heavy rain and numerous storms. The Mobiliar insurer expects high storm damage of over CHF75 million for the first six months of 2024.
- Nestlé France under investigation in contaminated pizza case: Nestlé France and its subsidiary Société des Produits Alimentaires de Caudry (SPAC) have been indicted in France over the Buitoni pizza scandal. The pizzas allegedly led to the death of two children and the poisoning of dozens of others.
- Emmi to acquire French group Mademoiselle Desserts: Swiss dairy products firm Emmi has reached an agreement to acquire the French Mademoiselle Desserts group, which specialises in high-end pastries. The company is worth €900 million (CHF875.3 million).
- Animal rights groups clash with cantons over hunting rules: Animal and nature protection organisations largely reject the proposed revision of the Hunting Ordinance in Switzerland. The cantons, on the other hand, see their proactive regulation as the basis for the cohabitation of protected wildlife and agriculture.
- Switzerland tackles overtourism problem: Switzerland Tourism aims to improve the distribution of tourist flows, both seasonally and nationally. Where points of tension arise, the organisation believes it can resolve them through its promotional campaigns.
- Glencore receives approval from Canada for Teck takeover: Swiss commodity trader Glencore has received the green light in Canada for the billion-euro takeover of the Teck coal business. However, Glencore also had to make numerous commitments to the Canadian government. The EU has already approved the acquisition.
- Swiss capital backs Eurovision Song Contest bid: The majority of Bern’s city parliament supports Bern and Biel’s bid for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. On Thursday, the council approved a contribution of CHF7 million by 34 votes to 22.
- Storm damaged A13 road reopened in Switzerland: Since Friday morning at 5am, the A13 San Bernardino route, an important north-south transit route with one lane in each direction, has been open again at Lostallo.
Swifties are set to take over Switzerland
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, will take over Zurich. My colleague, Geraldine Wong Sak Hoi, discussed the speculation about which grand hotel the pop superstar will stay at.
Taylor Swift’s significant impact on the economy in the cities she visits is well known, and the term “Swiftonomics” has been coined to describe this effect, according to a financial analysis by investment firm Freedom24. Incredibly, many American Swifties are even travelling from the US to Europe as it is cheaper to fly to Europe during the high summer tourism season to see Taylor Swift in concert than it is to get a concert ticket in the US.
All hotels are almost fully booked, and it is estimated that each Swiftie will spend upwards of $1,000 (CHF 897). “For a musical artist, it is estimated that one hundred dollars spent on live shows translates into three hundred dollars in additional local expenses. But for Taylor Swift, this figure is between three and five hundred dollars per fan, or five times more,” said John Plassard, director at Mirabaud Bank, yesterday to French-language Swiss public radio, RTS.External link
But not everyone is pleased about the sharp uptick in tourism.
Certain regions in Switzerland are facing issues with overtourism. Martin Nydegger, director of Switzerland Tourism, identified six or seven specific locations dealing with the negative impacts of receiving too many tourists. Switzerland Tourism, the national marketing and sales organisation for Switzerland as a travel, holiday, and conference destination, aims to better distribute tourist flows across different seasons and areas of the country. The hope is that this will alleviate the pressure on these heavily visited locations.
But will it work?
“Tourism stakeholders have no interest in overtourism,” says Laure von Wyss, coordinator of the Destination Val-de-Travers association.
The goal is to balance visitor numbers by promoting travel during quieter months. Influencers and other content creators are being enlisted to encourage people to explore lesser-known destinations.
A pilot project in collaboration with Chinese journalists and influencers aims to promote hiking trails and e-bike tours in Davos-Klosters. In September, the organisation will set up a training course in Saas-Fee for content creators, followed by a trip through Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This initiative aims to highlight regions of the Alpine country that many Chinese visitors might not typically consider.
Switzerland vs England
Since we don’t write briefings on the weekends, I’m excited to be able to preview tomorrow’s game today.
Switzerland is set to face-off against England for the quarter-final of the Euro 2024 championship tomorrow at 6pm (CEST). My Swiss-British colleagues might feel divided about where their loyalties lie.
“It’s the year of elections: some 4.5 billion people in almost 80 countries will decide the leadership of some of the world’s largest democracies this year,” writes my colleague Thomas Stephens. The Brits at home and abroad have just welcomed in a new Labour Prime Minister after 14 years of a conservative Tory government.
And now they focus on what is really important: football.
British politics have been making headlines and capturing audience attention: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey making comical faces while falling off a stand-up paddleboard; Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, being pelted by a milkshake – for the second time mind you – and who could forget where it all began: Rishi Sunak announcing the election while getting absolutely soaking wet in the rain.
However, the same can’t be said about England’s football performance at the Euros this year.”
There is no sugar coating it: the headlines about the English team have been bad. The New York TimesExternal link voted England the most boring team and one BBC headlineExternal link wrote: ‘Terrible football’ but ‘world-class players’ – rival fans on England.
Last weekend, Switzerland knocked out Italy, who were the defending champions. The last time External linkSwitzerland beat Italy in a UEFA Euro championship was in 1993.
Switzerland’s impressive gameplay is attributed to their key players who are league champions from the Italian, German and English leagues. “This is hugely significant,” said Swiss national football team Coach Murat Yakin in a news conference this week. “They have been able to pass on their winning mentality to others.”
The last time Switzerland defeated England on the pitch was 43 years ago in Basel in 1981. It was the third and final time Switzerland had beaten England. The 2-0 win for Switzerland led to riots, causing damages equivalent to CHF 258,755, prompting Basel city’s police chief to remark, “If we do not see them here again for 50 years it will be too soon.”
Although this game will be played in Germany and not Switzerland, Swiss authorities have been preparing to combat sports-related violence. As my colleague Sully wrote, Swiss authorities are ready to take a hardline approach on hooliganism this time around.
As summer heats up, so does the excitement in Switzerland. Whether you’re cheering for Taylor Swift or Switzerland, let us know who you are supporting and how!
Join the discussion:
More
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
