Traffic rush in Davos – even before it starts
Early WEF causes red heads
Because the WEF is taking place a few days earlier than usual this year, the preparatory work fell in the middle of the holiday season. To the annoyance of many tourists and locals.
1/7
The World Economic Forum begins on January 16 in Davos. Preparations are in full swing.
Leah HartmannEditor Politics
The weather forecast gives Reto Branschi (64) hope. There will be more snow in the next few days. If others are hoping for a white Christmas, the director of the tourism destination Davos Klosters would also like a white World Economic Forum (WEF).
“The snow is very important – also for the picture,” says Branschi. Green meadows and forests, brown roofs and gray asphalt: that’s not what the world should see when the television cameras are focused on Davos GR from next Monday. “Of course we prefer a snow-covered destination,” says the tourism director.
Utilization as before Corona
After a Corona break and last year’s postponement of the WEF to late spring, it is the first time in three years that the world’s largest and most prominent economic and political event is taking place again in January as usual. Tourism is looking forward to it: the hotels are fully booked, according to Branschi, the occupancy rate is back to how it was before Corona. “The bottom line is that the WEF brings in about as much income as the time between Christmas and New Year,” he estimates.
However, the anticipation of good business is also mixed with anger. One problem is the timing – the WEF is taking place earlier than usual this year. And that also meant: The preparatory work started right in the middle of the busy time around the holidays.
“A lot of negative feedback”
Construction began on January 3rd, when the village was still full of guests. “That’s why we received a lot of negative feedback from guests and locals,” says Branschi. Companies and organizations are converting houses on the promenade into national or themed pavilions, fences are being erected and checkpoints set up. Therefore, the road through the village could not be used normally last week. His conclusion: “It can’t go like this year anymore.”
The Davos Landammann Philipp Wilhelm (34) also says that the capacity possibilities in this first week were exceeded “despite complex traffic coordination”. “We will thoroughly analyze the situation after the event and draw conclusions for future set-up time management.”
The WEF has not yet commented on the criticism at Blick’s request. One thing is certain: when the forum takes place depends on a number of factors. Important foreign holidays also play a role, such as the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated on January 22 this year and is therefore comparatively early.