Zermatt Inside 2024 - 6 - English Translation and Summary

Summary of significant articles

The 2023/24 campaign, "Zermatt. Puts a spell on you," concluded with a 9% increase in turnover compared to the previous year.
The new 2024/25 campaign focuses on more personal storytelling, using "Zermatt ambassadors" to create more authentic and emotional content.
A key strategic shift involves an increased focus on directly bookable offers, promoted through short videos on social media platforms.
The campaign continues to position Zermatt as a year-round destination, supported by digital advertising and a television spot on Swiss national broadcaster SRF.

Following elections on October 13, 2024, Zermatt has a new town council for the 2025-2028 legislative period.
Incumbent Mayor Romy Biner-Hauser was re-elected in an uncontested vote.
Key challenges identified by the newly elected officials include the need for affordable housing, sustainable traffic management, and improved protection against natural hazards.
The council also welcomes a new municipal judge, Roman Henzen, and vice-judge, Sonja Perren, who were both elected uncontested.

The Gornerli project plans for a new multi-purpose reservoir and an 85-meter-high dam near the receding Gorner Glacier.
Its primary goals are to provide critical flood protection for the entire Matter valley, secure a long-term water supply, and increase hydroelectric power generation.
The project is recognized as one of 16 nationally significant projects for expanding renewable energy and is being developed by Grande Dixence SA in collaboration with the municipality of Zermatt.
The planning phase is underway, with the concession application targeted for the end of 2025 and potential commissioning of the reservoir in 2031 at the earliest.

A partial revision of the local zoning plan aims to allow for the construction of new primary residences on the roof of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) station.
The proposal would rezone the area from "tourist facilities" to a residential zone, potentially creating up to 70 new apartments ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 rooms.
This initiative is a direct response to Zermatt's significant shortage of affordable housing for year-round residents and employees.
The public is invited to review the plans and submit feedback to the municipality by December 16, 2024.

As of December 1, 2024, all vehicle permits for the restricted-access road between Täsch and Zermatt must be requested through a new digital application.
The new app, "Strasse NG13 Zermatt," handles applications for both annual permits and single-trip authorizations within the village.
This change eliminates the need to acquire physical permits from police counters and is intended to create a more efficient, user-friendly system.
The fundamental rules for vehicle access remain unchanged, and regular police controls will enforce compliance with the new digital permits.

Zermatt commemorated the 30th anniversary of its friendship and sister city agreement with Myoko, Japan, which was first signed in 1994.
A 25-person delegation from Myoko, led by its new mayor Yoji Kido, visited Zermatt in October 2024 to celebrate the milestone.
The long-standing partnership has fostered important tourism and cultural ties, including a regular and highly valued student exchange program between the two municipalities.
Both cities reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the friendship, with Zermatt officials planning a reciprocal visit to Myoko in May 2027.

After nearly 14 years as CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG, Markus Hasler will retire at the end of 2024.
Martin Hug, an experienced leader from the Graubünden tourism and cable car industry, will assume the role of CEO on January 1, 2025.
For the winter season, the Gant-Blauherd chairlift has been upgraded to the autonomous AURO system, enhancing safety and efficiency.
The operating schedule for the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, part of the Alpine Crossing, has been adjusted to better serve international travelers, with planned maintenance in January and February.

The historic 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat has completed extensive renovations, introducing new and innovative dining concepts.
New offerings include "saycheese! Gornergrat," a restaurant specializing in local cheese dishes, and the modern "Glacier Alpine Kitchen."
A new "Sky Lounge" with panoramic Matterhorn views is set to open in December 2024, followed by the exclusive "Million Stars Suite" in May 2025.
The hotel's new Asian bistro, "Tiger Bowl," located at the Gornergrat train station, offers fast, healthy fusion cuisine with a focus on sustainability.

Zermatt's local agriculture and alpine farming sector is facing a critical challenge due to the lack of a modern, year-round cheese-making facility.
Existing dairies are at full capacity or in urgent need of renovation, threatening the viability of local cheese production.
A promising project to build a new dairy at the old Moos substation was blocked, forcing a renewed search for a suitable location within or near the village.
The municipality and local farmers are appealing to the public for assistance in finding land or building space to secure the future of this vital local industry.

From early December, Zermatt is illuminated by a new winter lighting concept named "Lumi," which will last through February.
The installation features 5,000 specially designed, octagonal "glacier crystals" in blue, violet, and orange, which adorn streetlights and landmarks throughout the village.
Key attractions include a Christmas tree on the station square decorated with 1,500 crystals and a walk-in, kaleidoscope-like Lumi structure on the village square.
The concept is based on a local myth about magical crystals from the Matterhorn, with plans to allow private businesses and individuals to purchase crystals to expand the display in future years.