Switzerland limits tourist access to Riffelsee Lake: the cost of beauty, preservation
This Swiss country is a powerhouse of beauty and untouched landscapes, and now, the country is taking serious measures to save one of its most picture-perfect places. Riffelsee Lake is sited above the famous resort town of Zermatt and has introduced new measures meaning tourist access will now be controlled to protect its fragile environment.This viewpoint, like many others with truly breathtaking views of the Matterhorn and its glacial waters reflection, has become a real hotspot for visitors in search of the perfect Instagram shot. Concerns have been sparked, however, by the surge in tourism with regard to environmental degradation.
Environmental Impact and Conservation Efforts
The area around Riffelsee Lake has been overrun, especially in the months of June and July, by the charms of the lake with its alpine flowers such as edelweiss, gentian, and alpine golden primrose. This influx has had huge negative impacts on the local ecosystem, much of which is driven by access offered by the rack railway. Especially, the trampling of pasture land due to constant footfalls has led to the disappearance of edelweiss around the lake.
Authorities in Zermatt react to these environmental concerns by starting several measures to limit the negative impacts of tourism. Visitors are now held to marked paths, and meadows have been fenced to stop the damage from progressing. Surely, one does not do this in order to keep the tourists away, but to sensitise them for the protection of the alpine environment. Within the fenced area, an alpine garden has been set up to create awareness of the diversity of flora in that region.
An increasing concern in the whole of Europe.
Zermatt’s initiative reflects a broader trend in Europe, where one-time popular tourist spots grapple with the consequences of social media-driven tourism. The same problem is cropping up in other European locations, be it in Florence, where the inappropriate antics of a tourist with a Roman statue sparked outrage, or in the Swiss village of Lavertezzo, which has been swamped by visitors and litter since a Facebook posting described it as a Maldives-like destination.
While tourism is of central importance to Switzerland’s economy, increasingly, people are concerned that locals actually profit less from tourism compared with the environmental and cultural damage it causes. Moreover, the majority of visitors are interested in taking perfect pictures at all costs—most of them at the expense of full appreciation for the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region.
Finding Balance: The Zermatt Way
Contrary to all expectations, the adopted approach makes Zermatt a unique model of how tourism can go hand in hand with the preservation of the environment. Planting back Edelweiss so that future generations can also have the opportunity to see how breathtaking the beauty of Riffelsee See is, and embracing responsible tourism: the town is working towards it. The next alpine garden is purposed not only for conservation but also for education, so that every visitor should understand the necessity of its existence for the preservation of the environment.
Zermatt’s efforts underline how essential sustainable tourism practices are in maintaining the natural and cultural identity of prime destinations. In a world where the rise in the number of visitors at play is still an evolving travel concept, striking a balance between drawing people in and protecting the environment will be very critical to the integrity and beauty of some beloved landmarks, such as Riffelsee Lake.
