Zermatt Inside 2026 - 4 - English Translation and Summary

Topics: CommunityEducationInfrastructureTourismMountain SafetySkiingEcologyMarketing

Summary of significant articles

The "Das fahrende Tonstudio" (The Mobile Sound Studio) project visited Zermatt, transforming classrooms into a professional recording studio for a week.
Primary school students recorded sagas that had been written by older, 10th-grade students, with support from their young authors.
The children took on various roles, including voice actors, sound technicians, and foley artists, learning teamwork and technical skills.
The project was made possible through financial support from the Kiwanis Club Zermatt, the canton of Valais, and the school.

Extensive renovation work on underground utility lines and road surfaces will require several significant road closures in Zermatt during 2027 and 2028.
Key streets including Riedweg, Staldenstrasse, Oberdorfstrasse, Bachstrasse, and Uferweg will be affected by phased closures, primarily in the spring and summer months.
Detours will be established for vehicles and pedestrians, with public transport, including e-bus routes, being rerouted or experiencing service limitations.
The closures are necessary to complete essential upgrades to the town's infrastructure.

Bruno Jelk is being honored for his decades of service ensuring the safety of Zermatt and the surrounding valleys.
Starting in 1980, he served as head of the Zermatt rescue station and local avalanche service, playing a key role in developing the regional safety service (RSD).
He was a trusted expert on natural hazards, providing critical assessments for the municipality, cantonal roads, and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.
After 40 years as chief observer for the RSD, his expertise continues to form the foundation of natural hazard observation in the region, even as the service professionalizes.

Around 30 motivated members of the Diana Mettelhorn hunting club, along with their families, participated in the annual "Hegetag" (Conservation Day).
Volunteers worked at several locations in Randa, Täsch, and Zermatt to improve wildlife habitats.
Tasks included clearing pastures of overgrown shrubs and fallen wood, and removing old, unused fences that pose a hazard to wildlife.
The event aims to improve biodiversity and demonstrates a commitment to giving back to nature, with non-hunters also welcome to participate.

Zermatt Tourism has launched a major focus campaign aimed at the Swiss domestic market, responding to travel uncertainties and a desire for local holidays.
The campaign's creative concept features the iconic shadow of the Matterhorn casting over famous world destinations like New York and Paris, with the slogan "The Matterhorn casts a shadow over everything this summer."
It positions Zermatt as a cool, natural escape from summer heatwaves in cities, leveraging digital, out-of-home, and open-air cinema advertising.
Initial results show the campaign is achieving high reach and performance, reinforcing Zermatt's position as a premium summer destination.

Zermatt Tourism strategically cultivates partnerships with renowned Swiss brands that share its values of quality, premium positioning, and innovation.
These partnerships are a key success factor, enabling cross-industry exchange, expanding marketing reach, and developing joint projects and experiences.
The destination has successfully renewed its long-term partnerships with Mammut and Victorinox until the end of 2028, and with Lindt & Sprüngli until 2027.
A renewal of the partnership with the watch brand Hublot is also in preparation, further solidifying the portfolio of strong premium brands.

The Matterhorn Ski Paradise has been named the best ski resort in the Alps for the fifth time in the "Best Ski Resort Report 2026."
The award is based on a large-scale satisfaction survey of approximately 41,000 winter sports enthusiasts across 49 top ski areas in the Alps.
Zermatt achieved an overall satisfaction score of 8.48, with particularly high ratings for resort size, snow security, lift comfort, and gastronomic offerings.
This recurring success is attributed to the strong collaboration between all tourism partners within the destination to maintain an exceptionally high-quality experience.

Construction of the new 6-seater Patrullarve chairlift is advancing on schedule, with several key milestones recently completed.
All 16 tower foundations have been poured, steel construction for the valley station is underway, and lift towers are being installed by helicopter.
The new lift is a crucial infrastructure project that will significantly improve comfort, efficiency, and future-oriented transport within the Matterhorn Ski Paradise.
The project is on track for the cable pull in mid-September, a major step towards completion.

The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGBahn) and Japan's Fujikyu Railway are celebrating a partnership that has connected them for over 35 years.
In 2026, the Fujikyu Railway, which provides access to the Mount Fuji region, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The partnership, initiated in 1991, involves regular cultural and professional exchange between the two tourism-focused mountain railways.
The strong connection is also reflected in the official twinning of the municipalities of Zermatt and Fujikawaguchiko, which began in 2015.

A ten-year research project has concluded that controlled burning is an effective and beneficial method for restoring overgrown alpine pastures.
The final report shows that proper execution of burning improves soil conditions for regrowth and benefits not only alpine farming but also biodiversity by creating valuable habitats.
Compared to mulching, burning does not leave behind a layer of biomass that decomposes slowly at high altitudes and can inhibit growth.
The study found that fine dust pollution can be kept within acceptable limits if the burning is done correctly under suitable weather conditions with dry material.