Second home owners and tourism work together

Moosalp Tourismus AG and second home owners sign charter

While 2 years ago they fought each other until the federal court, there is now a good cooperation between second home owners and the tourism actors in the Moosalpregion. The AZEB (Alliance of Second Home Owners Bürchen) and the responsible tourism actors in the Moosalpregion decide on a charter of cooperation.

At the end of October 2018, the Federal Court decision on the new visitor's tax regulations of Bürchen reached the tourism managers of the Moosalpregion. At that time, the Federal Court ruled in favor of the second home owners, who formed together mainly through the association AZEB. The number of nights to be charged was almost halved by the decision of the Federal Court. This was the low point of the disputes around the second home owners and the tourism organization in the Moosal region.

Information event brought about a turnaround
The Federal Court ruling was used in the Moosalpregion as a kind of "new start" in the relationship between second home owners and tourism officials. Various discussions followed between the AZEB board and the tourism managers. However, these talks were not always easy, recalls Fabrizio Gull, head of tourism at Moosalp Tourismus AG. A basis for discussion first had to be worked out by both sides. An information event was then held on December 29, 2018, which was prepared in consultation with the AZEB board. The initial situation was transparently presented to the second home owners present and two variants for the future calculation of the flat-rate visitor's tax were proposed. Those present then decided in a consultative vote in favor of the higher variant, thereby sending a positive signal in the direction of tourism.

Charter signed
A lot has happened in these two years. Regular meetings, respectful interaction, transparent communication and the inclusion of mutual input have laid the foundation for good cooperation. Thus, in the summer of 2020, a charter on cooperation was signed to lay a certain commitment and consistency for the future. The charter was drawn up jointly and signed only by the AZEB, Moosalp Tourismus AG, the municipality of Bürchen and the municipality.

6 points secure cooperation
The charter consists of six points that define future cooperation and mutual interaction. For example, mutual recognition is defined as the basis for further cooperation. For this purpose, mutual meetings are defined in order to maintain and promote the dialogue. The dialogue should take place openly and transparently in order to further tourism in the Moosalpregion. Furthermore, the handling of conflicts is also regulated preventively. Another point concerns the board of directors of Moosalp Tourismus AG and Moosalp Bergbahnen AG. The charter regulates that the two companies, if possible, include a representative of the second home owners in the board of directors of both companies.

Friendly relationship
"Actually, the charter lags behind today's cooperation" says Fabrizio Gull. In the meantime, the relationship between the AZEB board and the tourism managers has even become friendly. They help each other out again and again and also meet outside the officially agreed meetings for an exchange. This perception is also confirmed by Thomas Hügli, president of AZEB: " We from AZEB are also very satisfied with the progress of the cooperation in the Moosal region". Second-homers are now much better included in what is happening as a stakeholder group and inputs are taken up and implemented.