That’s why Andermatt is now world class

Great honor for Andermatt! The Urner holiday region is now one of the best tourist villages in the world. The 1,500-strong community received this recognition based on an award from the UNWTO (the United Nations Tourism Organization) – for its great commitment to innovation and economic, social and ecological sustainability. “The award recognizes rural destinations that use tourism as an engine for development and new employment and income opportunities, while preserving and promoting community-based values ​​and products,” according to UNWTO. For the special organization, the “Best Tourism Village” initiative is a flagship project that aims to promote rural tourism away from the big cities.

In Andermatt there is great joy. “It is thanks to our community, the population and ultimately also the form of democracy that we can get there at all,” says Thomas Christen, Tourism Director of the Andermatt holiday region. The latter means that the Swiss candidates for the UNWTO will be proposed for election by a national committee consisting of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Swiss Tourism Association (STV) and Switzerland Tourism.

Exemplary development of the region

The fact that it worked so wonderfully with the award is the “sum of all things”, sums up Christen. Andermatt is very committed to climate-friendly development, promoting arrival by train with special tickets (Winter-Hit) and a summer guest card with massively discounted mountain railway tickets and the Matterhorn Gotthardbahn in order to be able to travel the entire region sustainably. There are numerous ecological innovations in the ski area, for example the use of a hybrid snow groomer and an electric bus. Andermatt also uses district heating and hydropower and fights food waste.

Winter holidays in the top village

Those who want to spend world-class winter holidays can do so in the Andermatt region with numerous activities. The offer includes alpine skiing, freeriding, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing and snowshoeing as well as various special events such as early skiing with a mountain breakfast, full moon fondue with night tobogganing or the snow night with pasta or fondue fun. Everyone will find the right snow fun here!

Those who want to spend world-class winter holidays can do so in the Andermatt region with numerous activities. The offer includes alpine skiing, freeriding, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tobogganing and snowshoeing as well as various special events such as early skiing with a mountain breakfast, full moon fondue with night tobogganing or the snow night with pasta or fondue fun. Everyone will find the right snow fun here!

In addition to these efforts, there has been a “breathtaking development” over the past 20 years. Samih Sawiris’ project Andermatt Swiss Alps has contributed a large part to this upswing in the Andermatt region – and still does. “The number of overnight stays is increasing every year. And the growth process is not yet complete,” says Christen about the development of the Andermatt region. A process that is always very controlled and carried out by the municipality and the investors with the involvement of the population. “In my view, exemplary,” he adds. Of course, the regular and global media presence in recent years has also helped. And: “We are prominently located on the Glacier Express route – in the middle of the race, so to speak.”

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs is also very happy about Andermatt’s accolade. In addition to Andermatt, Murten FR was also in contention. SECO wrote in its explanatory statement that the two locations impressed with their strong focus on sustainable development, their proximity to agricultural activities and the local added value that tourism generates in the respective regions. Points that finally convinced the Advisory Committee of the UNWTO initiative. “Swiss tourism is world class again!” tweeted Christoph Schlumpf from SECO enthusiastically. “Together with the previous villages of Gruyères, Saas-Fee and Valposchiavo, Switzerland now has five ‘Best Tourism Villages’. Only Spain is as successful worldwide as Switzerland.”

Use international synergies

Thomas Christen says that they are already in contact with co-award winner Murten FR. “We’ve already philosophized a bit together.” Andermatt can now use synergies, above all internationally, with the exchange in the global network “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO”, to which one belongs with the election. It is a very exclusive circle – in total, only 32 places worldwide have received this special award in the context of the current award.

Andermatt is exemplary here

• Cultural and natural resources
• Promotion and preservation of cultural resources
• Economic sustainability
• social sustainability
• environmental sustainability
• Tourism development and value chain integration
• Governance and prioritization of tourism
• infrastructure and connectivity
• Health, Safety and Security

Source: UNWTO

• Cultural and natural resources
• Promotion and preservation of cultural resources
• Economic sustainability
• social sustainability
• environmental sustainability
• Tourism development and value chain integration
• Governance and prioritization of tourism
• infrastructure and connectivity
• Health, Safety and Security

Source: UNWTO

«The network offers a space for the exchange of experiences and best practices, insights and opportunities. It also includes experts and partners from the public and private sectors who are involved in promoting tourism for rural development. In addition, the winning villages benefit from additional visibility, for example through global media campaigns by the UNWTO. This allows the places and the destination organization Andermatt Urserntal Tourismus to position themselves accordingly.

Andermatt wants to get even better

For Thomas Christen, however, it is clear that the Andermatt holiday region will not rest on its laurels. “We are in the process of getting better and not perfect,” says the tourism director. “Like everyone else, we still have blind spots, which we can call by name.” So you want to be even more honest, especially when it comes to sustainability.

Now it’s time to give credit where credit is due: on February 27th and 28th the official award ceremony for the best tourism villages in the world will take place in AlUla (Saudi Arabia). “We’re looking forward to the ceremony,” says Christen. “After that we will see what comes of the contacts with the other winners.”