Canton Bern builds on international events
The Ski World Cup races at Lauberhorn and in Adelboden are among the most important international events held in the canton of Bern. The canton of Bern has an interest in retaining such high-profile events in its territory over the long term. A legislative amendment is now intended to create better opportunities for this.
The cantonal government has drafted a bill which, among other things, is intended to create the legal basis for regular, recurring contributions. The revision of the law was welcomed in principle during the consultation process, as the cantonal government writes in a press release on Thursday. However, the government has specified the requirements for regular contributions on the basis of the consultation submissions. In addition, the funding options are not to be extended. This would go beyond the financial possibilities of the canton.
The government has approved the bill for the attention of the cantonal parliament. The Grand Council will discuss the matter in the upcoming March session. Internationally significant events not only generate added value locally, but also an advertising impact through media coverage, the cantonal government is convinced. When millions of viewers see magnificent television images of the Hundschopf, Silberhornsprung and Chuenisbärgli, the Bernese Oberland tourism region can present itself worldwide.
In its press release, the government emphasizes that tourism promotion is not unilaterally focused on winter sports. Rather, it covers a wide range of different events.
Use synergies
The revised law also stipulates that the accommodation tax and the visitor's tax will be collected by the same body in future. This regulation will make it possible to exploit synergies and simplify the system, as the government explains in its press release. Together with Graubünden and Valais, the canton of Bern is one of the three most important tourism cantons in Switzerland. The value added by tourism in the canton of Bern amounts to around CHF 2.6 billion, i.e. around 3.5 percent of the cantonal value added. 23,800 jobs are directly attributable to tourism. That is just under five percent of employment in the canton. (SDA)
