Swiss Review 5/2019

Swiss Review / September 2019 / No.5 3 Anyone visiting Switzerland this year cannot have failed to notice that the scrumaround key tourist des- tinations has become thicker than ever. Lucerne, for example, is at its limits, groaning under the weight of tourist groups numbering in the thousands. Inter- laken is also bursting at the seams. On some days, many of its local mountain railways are as packed as any metropolitan rush-hour underground. As the Focus article in this edition of the “Review” shows, the impression is accurate. Switzerland is beginning to know themeaning of “overtourism”. In other words, beautiful towns and cities are learning how it feels for their role in history to be overlooked as they become nothing more than a back- drop to a hectic, parallel tourist world. One of the drivers of this is the sense of hurry. If the ever-growing groups of guests from the Far East are only able to afford “Europe in five days”, then they have at most 48 hours to enjoy Zu- rich, Lucerne, Bern, Interlaken, the Jungfraujoch andGeneva, not tomention any experience of everyday life here. This pace is increasing the pressure on our tourism highlights. More and more guests are targeting the same places for the same experiences, and are taking the samephotos. If youhavenot takena selfie at theRhine Falls, in front of Lucerne’s Kappellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), or up on the famous Jungfraujoch, youwere not there. Experts refer to this type of behaviour as “signalling”. This is by no means meant as a moral judgement as Swiss people experi- ence the world in a similar way, too – whether it is the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty, or Uluru, taking a photo in front of awell-known landmark gives a point of reference – and confirmation. Journeying the road less travelled is more challenging, as it is harder to share what fewer people know. Travelling without collecting visual trophies is something that has to be learned probably. What’smore, a tourist destination like Switzerland has a huge amount to offer apart from just the hotspots. I tested this for myself, packed a rucksack, andwent hiking for a fewdays through the alpine foothills, camped at farms and bathed my tired feet in beautiful rivers. There was no sign whatsoever of “overtourism”. The last paragraph of this editorial is devoted to the coming elections. The “Fifth Switzerland” is being bombarded by advertising from all the political parties. At the same time, the political rights of the Swiss Abroad are coming under pressure. There could not be more at stake. We put the parties under the microscope, which produced some fascinating insights. MARC LETTAU, EDITOR IN CHIEF Editorial 5 Mailbag 6 Focus Tourism is booming; top Swiss destinations are becoming crowded 10 Politics Patience is needed: the path to the EU framework agreement remains rocky 12 Images An exhibition examines the moon’s power to fascinate 14 Society The Léman Express will open Geneva up to its surroundings 16 Literature series How the writings of Albert Bächtold led to Russians speaking Klettgau dialect News from your region 17 Politics / Elections 2019 Parties under the microscope: the big election survey 22 Economy Switzerland: the El Dorado of blockchain technology 24 OSA news Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Montreux 28 news.admin.ch The latest on e-voting 30 Books / Sounds 31 Top pick / News Contents Switzerland in 48 hours Cover photo: Chinese tourists on the top of Titlis. Photo: Keystone “Swiss Review”, the information magazine for the “Fifth Switzerland”, is published by the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).