Tourism

Tourism is the economic engine of the Lötschental Valley. Numerous jobs are directly or indirectly linked to tourism and contribute significantly to the region’s economic output and quality of life. The landslide in Blatten has therefore hit this important economic sector particularly hard.

The greatest impact was felt in the lodging infrastructure and the number of overnight stays. In the first year following the event, overnight stays were about 30 percent below the level of 2024. While winter tourism remained relatively stable, the summer season was particularly hard hit. The sharpest declines were recorded in the hotel industry, group accommodations, and campgrounds.

Fortunately, the Lötschental’s appeal to visitors remains undiminished. Many visitors continue to enjoy coming to the valley. However, demand for lodging now exceeds the available supply. As a result, more guests are arriving as day visitors without staying overnight in the valley. This reduces tourism-related economic output and affects employment and income in the tourism sector.

For this reason, creating additional lodging capacity is a top priority. With the temporary Hotel Momentum on the Lauchernalp, the reopening of the campground in Kippel, the resumption of operations at the Hotel Fafleralp, and the new Hotel Zeitlos in Ferden, existing capacity can be reactivated and additional beds created.

A valley-wide lodging strategy coordinates and specifies the various projects aimed at creating new accommodations. This applies both to the future town of Blatten and to the other municipalities in the Lötschental. At the same time, the hiking trails, trails, cross-country ski trails, and other tourist infrastructure in the Blatten area that were destroyed by the landslide are being replanned and gradually rebuilt.

Tourism will remain a cornerstone of the Lötschental economy in the future as well. This makes it all the more important to develop it sustainably as part of the reconstruction efforts and to integrate it meaningfully into the future design of the valley.

For a vibrant Blatten. For a strong Lötschental. For a region with a future.