6 ideas against overtourism Tourists, forget Lucerne! Hausen am Albis is beautiful too

Vacation resorts like Lucerne have to contend with masses of tourists. The problem is called overtourism. So what to do? Stay at home more often? A good idea. But there are other options.

Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen BE - in the past, these two places actively courted tourists and travel groups.

Today, many say they are being overrun by guests. More and more locals are annoyed. Some Swiss municipalities have already reacted and put up signs asking for consideration.

Lucerne and Lauterbrunnen BE are no exception, but two of many examples.

The question arises: is something going wrong in Swiss tourism?

"Tourists destroy what they seek by finding it"

The tragedy of tourism - summarized by the German writer Hans Magnus Enzensberger, who died in 2022, as "The tourist destroys what he seeks by finding it" - has intensified in recent years into a problem that tourism experts, authorities and researchers refer to as overtourism.

Relaxing vacations look different, and travelers are increasingly annoyed by too many other guests at their vacation destination. And yet: the behavior of the majority of people does not seem to be changing.

Stay at home more often? Not a bad idea

Well then, I bought a gravel bike four years ago. In that time, I've discovered many a pretty place without tourists that I didn't know about before.

During my trips, I have also thought about what needs to change in tourism. I read a lot - for example the text "Who likes tourists?" by Meike Winnemuth in the magazine "Geo".

Winnemuth's conclusion: "It probably starts with admitting to yourself: yes, there is a problem and I am part of it. Travel has long since lost its innocence, and the responsibility for maintaining a halfway tolerable world cannot be shifted to a tourism office."

So what to do? Stay at home more often? That's a good idea. Bury expectations that paradise awaits at the end of a flight? That's another option.

And what else? Here are my six personal tips against overtourism in Switzerland:

1. the most crowded places are not the most beautiful

I already had a few kilometers in my legs, so I was correspondingly tired when I cycled through Hausen am Albis on my gravel bike a few weeks ago. And yet I immediately realized: this village is different.

This village has charm. And the pretty houses remind me of Gstaad BE with its chalets. The difference is that Hausen am Albis has more character, more far-reaching views and far fewer tourists.

2 Travel in the opposite direction

Take the cogwheel railroad up the Pilatus-Kulm - an experience. It gets really fantastic when you spend the night on the summit. Contrary to the habits of most tourists, I only went up in the afternoon (I was almost alone on the train) in order to spend the night at the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm and then travel back down the next day.

You can enjoy the sun and the view on the hotel terrace in the evening. You might then ask yourself: has the stone deer memorized the Pilatus mountain railroad timetable?

Because as soon as the last train rattled down into the valley at half past five, I saw a group of young ibex just a few hundred meters below the Oberhaupt, one of the peaks of the Pilatus massif.

3. finally visit your home town

How long has it been since you visited the place where you grew up? And when was the last time you were in your hometown? Your hometown is the place where your ancestors came from - and often your family name.

I recently invited some friends to my home canton of Thurgau. We hiked the wine trail in Weinfelden. The nine-kilometre circular trail leads through the vineyards on the Ottoberg.

Again and again, the view over the hilly landscape of Thurgau opened up to us, and the Säntis seemed close enough to touch. And particularly beautiful: the hamlet of Ottoberg and its timber-framed houses.

Oh dear, have I really forgotten how beautiful Thurgau is? The highlight on the wine trail are two safes: bottles from the Weinfeld winegrowers are available for tasting.

4 The earlier you go shopping, the less crowded it is

For many people, vacations mean shopping. The most famous shopping street in this country is Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. There are countless boutiques, many watch and jewelry stores and fewer and fewer department stores.

It's just a shame when people trample on each other's feet while spending money. The solution is simple: in the morning, when the stores have just opened, there are far fewer people on Bahnhofstrasse. And the cool thing is that the sales staff have more time to advise you.

5. go on vacation in your own city

Vacations at home are the best anyway. Momoll, there are few things more relaxing. You don't have to travel and if you forget your toothbrush at home, you can quickly go and get it at home.

I spent my Zurich test vacation at the Hotel Widder in Zurich, the city where I've lived for a quarter of a century. In the evening, I ordered a mojito from room service and enjoyed the view of the rooftops of the city on the Limmat from the terrace.

Afterwards, I went for a walk through the old town. Just what tourists do. I ate a Viennese fried chicken with potato and cucumber salad at the Kindli restaurant. Simply wonderful.

6. stay at home again

And if you want to make it even cheaper and completely avoid the stress of packing and traveling, then just do like comedian Fabio Landert, who prefers to stay at home:

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