Research Collection

Working Paper

On tourism in Switzerland tourism and sustainable development in mountain regions and in rural areas

Author(s): Stucki, Erwin

Publication Date: 1995

Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-004996317

Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted

This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use.

ETH Library ETHZiirich Institut fiir Agrarwirtschaft/Institut d'economie rurale

Schriftenreihe Publications

1995/2 ON TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND: TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS AND IN RURAL AREAS Erwin W. Stucki

January 1995

ETH-Zentrum, 8092 Ziirich 1995/2 ON TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND: TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN MOUNTAIN REGIONS AND IN RURAL AREAS Erwin w. Stucki

January 1995

Address of the author: Institut d'economie rurale Antenne romande GR-Ecublens CH-1015 Lausanne lSt edition (40 copies) On tourism in Switzerland : tourism and sustainable development in mountain regions and in rural areas

Conference presented at the Japanese Institute of Tourism Research Yamanashi University, Japan 26 th November 1994

Erwin W. Stucki Institute of rural economics Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland

1. Introduction

2. Swiss Economy and Swiss Tourism 2.1 Swiss Economy, some figures 2.2. Swiss Tourism, some figures 2.3 Swiss Toursim over the years

3. · Tourism and regional development in the Swiss Alps 3 .1. The growth mechanism for tourism 3 .2. Advantages/disadvantages of tourism 3.3. Towards sustainable tourism development

4. Agritourism, rural tourism, farm tourism 4.1. Definitions 4.2. Rural and Agritourism in Switzerland 4.3. Basic conditions and dilemmas for a sustainable rural tourism

5. Conclusions

Bibliography 2

1. Introduction

This paper presents the basic facts of a lecture given at the autumn conference of the Japan Institute of Tourism Research, held at the Yamanashi University on the request of Professor Toshiyuki HANAOKA. I would like to thank the Japan Institute of Tourism Research forthe invitation to present this lecture. My research and lecturing activities at the Institute of rural economics (SFIT) concentrate on integrated regional development in mountain areas. Accordingly, my speech will concentrate on basic aspects of sustainable tourism development at the local and regional level. Having been involved in Unesco's Man and Biosphere Programme at the beginning of the 80s, I will present the basic facts which resulted from this interdisciplinary research programme. There is no doubt about the value of the MAB contribution to todays question of sustainable development. According to the general theme of my presentation I will present the general aspects of Swiss Tourism through some figures and some slides. Upon the wish of the organiser, I will also speak about agritourism in Switzerland and I shall make some general comments on rural tourism in Europe.

I am not acquainted yet with Tourism in Japan. I still do hope that my lecture may contribute to the success of the autumn meeting. As I understood, the present 1Oth annual meeting of the Japan Institute of Tourism Research is for the first time having a lecture from a foreigner. I am proud to be able to hold this opening speech.

2. Swiss Economy and Swiss Toursim

2.1. Swiss Economy, some figures Table 1 : Population, area and economic structure of Switzerland Population 6.9 mio inhabitants Area 41'300 km2 Density 165 inhabitants/km2 (Japan 330 inhabitants/km2) Economy Sector I 5% Sector II 34% Sector III 61 % Source : Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Bern, 1992

Table 2 : Share of the public budget among the three political authorities in Switzerland Authorities Public budget Central governement . 30% 26 cantons and semi- 40% cantons 3000 local authorities 30% Source: Stucki E, script lecture (unpublished) 3

2.2. Swiss Tourism, some figures

Table 3 Accomodation and overnight stays of Swiss tounsm, 1994 Accommodation : 1 mio possibilities

in hotels 250'000 beds in apartments 360'000 beds on camping sites 240'000 beds group and youth 230'000 beds hostels 1'080'000 beds Overnight stays, total 76mio (3 7 mio foreign guests) in winter 44% in summer 56% in hotels 33 mio (20 mio foreign guests) Source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Bern, 1994

• Tourism is an export industry : 13 % of Switzerland's export revenues can be attributed to tourism (metal and machine industry : 3 7 %, chemical industry : 22 %, watch making industry : 8 % )

• Tourism contributes 6.0 % to the Swiss gross national product.

• Tourism employs approximately 9 % of the working population. Approximately 208'000 persons (6% of total) are employed directly in tourism related industries (accommodation, restaurants, traffic, ... ). In.addition, 92'000 jobs (3% of total) are indirectly related to tourism (intermediate consumption and investments).

• Tourism is especially important for the mountain areas.

Table 4 : Share of hotel overnight stays in tourist areas, Switzerland, 1994 mountains resorts 41 % lakeside zones 21 % large cities 15 % other areas 23 % 100% Source : Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Bern, 1994

2.3 Swiss Toursim over the years

By the end of the nineteenth century, tourism was already an important activity for the Swiss economy. Hotels and railways still recall this epoch. The guests, fortunate people, remained for several weeks in the tourist resorts. The economic crisis of the late 20's and 30's also injured the tourism industry in Europe. After world war II, and with the general growth of the economy, tourism became a rapidly expanding industry. The skiing industry became very popular and many tourist resorts grew rapidly : transport systems, apartment houses, services of all kinds were expanding. For many mountain areas, tourism and the related building 4 industry supplied new job opportunities. Meanwhile, the traditional farming system became heavily mechanised and, in doing this, lost a lot of jobs. The following figure illustrates these facts.

Figure 1 : some aspects oftouristic growth, Switzerland (Krippendorf J.) Beds 2.6Mio. l 200 OOO - . . rc;;r\.._ ~

~ l OOO OOO - ~ ~ @)~ 800 OOO - ~ ~ ~ 600 OOO - ~ 1,2Mio . ~ ~~ 400 OOO - .

' 200 OOO - n . 485000~~ ~ 147000~ 1970 1975 1980 1985 ~fiiiiii11,._~ ma,_ ~ CJ secondary homes 1950 1960 1970 1985 1. .··• ,: I Appartem~nts .

Hot.cls

• E§ Cable cars (section) •D gGuests, winter

Note : The seasonal distribution of guests refer to the guests transported by cable cars. The figures in table 3 refer to the total overnight stays by guests in Switzerland. 5

According to recent figures, it seems that the growth of the touristic demand has come to a stand still. Environmental issue are now arising. MESSERLI (1990) has summarized the new situation for Swiss tourism in the following figure.

Figure 2 : evolution of Swiss tourism in a period of uncertainity

------~ New economic and environmental

. Constant growth nil uncertain

100

30

Enviromnental conditions constant I variables I uncertain

·. ·~ .., . . 1950 1980 1990 Source: Messerli (1990) in "La vie economique"

3. Tourism and regional development in the Swiss Alps

The MAB 6 Programme, dealt with the impact of human activities on mountain and tundra ecosystems. The main focus of the MAB 6 Programme was on the changing relationship between man and his environment, in particular the transition from a relatively stable agricultural and pastoral system to one that is strongly affected by outside influences, such as industry, tourism, mass communication and modem urban society ..

In Switzerland, in the early 80's, four mountain regions served as test-areas for this integrated research programme : Grindelwald, Aletsch, Davos and the Pays-d'Enhaut district.

I will present now some of the basic results of the programme, related to tourism and regional development. As mentionned above (section 2), tourism has become the most important industry for a large number of mountain regions of the Swiss Alps.

3.1. The growth mechanism for tourism

Krippendorf and Muller (1986) presents the tourist growth mechanism in a simple model to explain the relationships between the various element of the system. Five factors trigger and inflate tourist demand. They are the fuel for the tourist growth mechanism. 6

Figure 3 : tourism growth mechanism

. INCOr-£ °'1/\L I TY- OF ll F£ Jo D °'1/\L I TY LE1sunE

Source : Krippendorf and Muller, 1986 7

(i) Income. in 1985, the average Swiss earned 80 % more than in 1960, and the average West German 110 % more. According to growth forecasters, income, and with it expenditure on travel and holidays, will continue to grow in the future. (ii) Quality of Life. There has been a rapid increase in the urban population in recent decades, and with it an increasing desire to escape from inhospitable living conditions in cities. Urban sprawl will spread. (iii) Job quality. Mass production, division of labour and rationalisation have diminished job quality for many people and increased stress at work. Things will not improve with the advent of the microelectronic era. People will need the counterbalance provided by leisure time and travel more than ever before. (iv) Leisure. Increased leisure time - or rather, shorter working hours - take the form of longer weekends, longer holidays and earlier retirement. Between 1950 and 1985, the working year decreased by 23 % in the German Federal Republic and by 17 % in Switzerland. By the year 2000, it is estimated that working hours will be reduced by a further 15 to 20 % in these two countries. (v) Motorization. The triumph of the private car was what triggered our individual mobility. In 1950, ther were 32 cars for every thousand Swiss and only 10 for every thousand Germans. In 1985, the corresponding figures were 400 and 420 respectively. Cautious forecasts predict figures of 460 and 520 cars per thousand inhabitants for the year 2000.

On the basis of these figures, almost all tourism futurologists agree that the vigorous trend towards leisure and travel will continue to flourish. The outlook is bright. Regardless of short-term economic setbacks, tourism is still regarded as one of the most promising growth industries. Tourist demand sets in motion a growth cog that automatically overcomes the bottlenecks which keep cropping up. The following is a simplified explanation of this automatic overcoming of bottlenecks : increase in demand> capacity problems in infrastructure or tourist facilities > expansion with provision for adequate reserves > sales promotion measures to achieve better occupancy > increased demand, development thrust > new capacity problems as a development threshold > etc.

The growth of the tourist economy creates new jobs at regional and local levels, and hence income. The prosperity cog is given fresh impetus. Changes in economic structures - in particular an increase in tourism-generated and commercial jobs - leads to extensive immigration and emigration with the corresponding social shifts among the local population.

Potential earnings and revenue from tourism mean increased prosperity for farmers. Thus, tourism supports agriculture in mountain regions and helps maintain the small­ scale structures and the varied usage which contribute a great deal to diversified landscape. However, the agriculture cog has other consequences: tourism and the building industry put considerable pressure on land and manpower requirements resulting in > intensified labour problems in agriculture > pressure to rationalize and mechanise > high capital costs >motivation to use tourism as a source of extra income > heavy workload > greater pressure to rationalize > etc. Capital costs are also pushed up by rising land prices. All these factors increase the temptation to sell land. 8

However, official agricultural policy and not tourism, is mainly responsible for this intensification of agriculture in mountain regions. Its policy of using high subsidies to "improv~ income by promoting production and supporting prices" compels mountain farmers to adapt their operating structures and agricultural methods as fast as possible.

In addition to its indirect effects through agriculture and forestry, tourist development also exerts a direct influence on the Nature and landscape cog - usually a negative one because tourism always involves consumption of the landscape to build infrastructures, transport facilities, holiday homes and secondary residences, hotels, etc. Tourism may also be a burden on flora and fauna, air and water. If these negative effects gain the upper hand, the landscape loses its recreational and true value. Tourists will turn to new destinations.

All these affect the culture cog : tourists with their demands and behaviour, the sale of land, rising land prices, the closed shutters of holiday and second homes, the influx of newcomers and foreign labour and the weakened position of agriculture are all perceived by locals as external influencing factors. Loss of independence and self­ determination are particularly irksome.

This picture of interweaving influences and cogs shows the most important components and forces influencing or being influenced by tourism growth. The model also reveals potential points of departure for controlling the process, highlighting the particular importance of networked thinking in tourism.

3.2 Advantages I disadvantages of tourism

Does tourism mean destruction or salvation for marginal areas? What counts more : the good it does or the sacrifices it demands? In order to answer these questions, Krippendorf (1986) summarized the costs and the benefits of tourism like this.

Table 5: Costs and benefits of tourism, Kri endorf, 1986 Positive effects of tourism Costs of tourism:

- Halts emigration - Produce a one-sided, vulnerable economic structure - Creates jobs - Promote lopsided, uncoordinated growth and undermines its own earnmg power - Generates income - Squander land - Finances infrastructures - Place a burden on Nature and the landscape - Improves living conditions - Put locals at the mercy of external decision-makers and decrease their independence - Supports agriculture and helps to - Undermine the uniqueness of local preserve the landscape culture - Gives locals self-confidence and a - Contain the seed of social tension and sense of belon in a avate imbalances 9

Tourism creates a very unstable balance which changes with every measure and every development impulse. Tiny causes can have enormous repercussions in this network, and every community and region has to continually revise and readjust this balance.

3.3 Towards balanced tourist development

The MAB-Research programme has clearly shown that the tourist growth mechanism does not respond to the rules of sustainability. Short term economic factors are over­ emphasized against ecological and socio-cultural factors. Muller assesses that the balanced tourist development has to activate five goals, related in a magic pentagon

Figure 4 : five goals for the balanced tourist development

well-being of Economic health local population

optimum satisfaction of guest requirements

Unspoilt nature/ protection of resources

Dynamic culture Source : Muller H., 1994

Environmentally and socially compatible tourism would mean establishing harmony in this 'magic pentagon' to maximise the positive relationships between all the factors while keeping the negative repercussions (particularly on nature and culture) to a minimum. Like the magic square in national economics (full employment, stable prices stable balance of payments and growth), the five factors are equally important. They are objectives and prerequisites rolled into one. Compared with the present situation, this concept represents an upgrading of social and environmental interests and a comparative downgrading of purely economic ones. There are any number of principles, theories and suggestions as to how the desired situation can be achieved.

Ten basic principles for developing tourism in harmony with people and Nature

A few obvious conclusions aimed at developing a softer brand of tourism can be drawn from the above remarks. Muller (1990) quotes the ten basic principles for developing tourism in harmony with people and Nature, mainly reflecting the point of view of a local community and the steps it can take to play an active role in the development process. These principles are the following ones :

WE, THE RESPONSIBLE HOST POPULATION 1. We need tourism for our economy : it creates jobs and brings in money. We know, however, that it also represents a danger to our culture and our 10

environment. We therefore want to supervise and control its development so that our country may be preserved in its economic, social and natural environment.

2. By independent decision-making in tourist development we mean that the host population should decide on and participate in all matters relevant to the development of their region : tourist development by, with and for the local population. We encourage many forms of participation in decision-making, without neglecting the interests of minorities.

3. The tourist development we aim for is economically productive, socially responsible and environment-conscious. We are prepared to slow down further development where it leads to an intolerable burden on our population and environment. We want to avoid the pitfalls of economic imperatives.

4. We determine the tourism development targets in our areas in a binding way, limiting them to what is desirable and not what is feasible. We adhere to this policy and are prepared to put up with the bottlenecks that may arise from doing so.

5. We want to keep control over our land. We pursue an active planning and land­ use policy. We limit our new constructions by carefully considered zoning policies. We decline to sell land to non-locals. We promote and encourage the utilisation of the existing buildings and infrastructure.

6. Our infrastructural development policies are based on restraint. We are therefore careful in building new or extending the existing infrastructure (especially roads, parking lots, airports, water supply and sewage systems) and tourist transport facilities. We strictly observe the set development targets.

7. We want to protect Nature and the landscape effectively. In addition to careful land management and conservative infrastructural development, we create large Nature reserves in order to preserve particularly valuable ecosystems. We ensure the participation of environmentalists and Nature conservation experts in all planning and construction activities.

8. We want to counter the danger of one-sided economic development and over­ dependence on the tourist trade. We support the strengthening of agriculture and small-scale trade as well as their partnership with tourism. We strive for a qualitative improvement of jobs in tourism. We also continually explore all possibilities for the creation of new jobs outside the tourist trade.

9. One of our principles in tourist development is to observe and foster the cultural characteristics of our region. We expect our guests to be prepared to accept this principle. We want our local culture to remain independent and alive. We protect and promote our architecture, our handicrafts, our art, our language, our customs and our cuisine.

10. We provide information for all concerned: the local population, the tourist trade, politicians and tourists, and try and win their support for socially responsible and environmentally conscious behaviour. We use all tourism marketing tools and general information channels to promote our concept. 11

4. Agritourism, rural tourism, farm tourism

4.1. Definitions

Tourism has been, and is expected to remain a growing industry. While the major part of tourist activities is taking place in cities and in tourist resorts (mountains, seaside, islands) there is also a growing demand for leisure time to be spent in rural areas. In many parts of rural areas in developped countries, and in the central and eastern ·European countries, rural tourism is placed in the scope of regional development. It is expected to contribute to rural development in a social and economic way. Tourism is seen as an opportunity which can help in the development of rural area, while activities related to food production are decreasing rapidly in an open market oriented economy.

A lot of definitions of rural tourism and, in the same context, of agritourism have to be distinguished. It is almost impossible to give a list of all the definitions. Peters et al (1994), quoting Jansen-Verbeke (1990) propose a basic distinction between rural tourism, agritourism and farm tourism.

T a bl e 6 R ura1 T ounsm, A'.gntounsm andF arm T our1sm Characteristics Rural Tourism IAgri-tourism Farm Tourism

Tourism Space rural areas, natural farm land at and around the farm parks, forests Suppliers rural community farmers farm owners Core Product rural environm. farm products life at the farm

sports and recreation, agrarian way of life rural festivities airrarian festivities Secondary holiday villages, stay at active farms stay at farms Products countryside hotels, use of agrarian space stay at private homes

camping sites, camping meals meals places to eat

animation, shops, recreation shops recreation signposting information source: Jansen-Verbeke (1990) quoted by Peters et al. (1994)

Rural tourism is a broad concept which covers not only farm tourism or agritourism - i.e. accommodation provided by farmers - but all tourist activities in the rural areas. This type of tourism is attractive to city dwellers in search of restful country holidays and, if better known, could expand and contribute to a better seasonal and geographical distribution of tourism (since it is less dependent on the weather than mass tourism). Rural tourism comprises all forms of tourism that are to be found in a rural area. The discrepap.cy between the rural and urban character of the region is the starting-point. 12

This definition is principally based on the characteristics of the region and is therefore comprehensive. It includes touring and "passage" tourism in rural areas (car, bicycle, boat, horse) as well as residential tourism. The latter include stays in rural hotels, camping sites, holiday villages, holiday homes and stays in private houses. Rural tourism includes a range of activities, services and amenities provided by farmers and rural people to attract tourists to their area in order to generate extra income for their businesses.

Agritourism is all possible forms of leisure and tourism which take place in the agricultural area, for which the used facilities are supplied by agricultural business and which do justice to the qualities and characteristics of these agricultural areas. Agritourism comprises all forms of tourism that are directly connected with the agrarian environment, agrarian products or agrarian stays. The suppliers of this tourist product are directly engaged in farming. This form of tourism is therefore more limited than rural tourism by its explicit relation to agriculture. This tourist product also includes events, festivities and museums that are based on farm products, traditions and customs. It is important here to consider the varied supply of all types of festivities that are inspired by the agrarian environment and history. They are organised by local people and farmers and form the annual highlights in a rural community. However, in a lot of rural areas the role of agriculture has become marginal. This explains why the term agritourism is often erroneously used to indicate a tourist development that is all about rural environment, but which has got little or nothing to do with the agrarian sector.

Farm tourism points to all forms of tourism that are directly connected to a farm, either with a stay at the farm, or meals, entertainment at the farm or day trips to the farm. A distinction should be made between farms that are still being used as agrarian enterprises and farms that only refer to an agrarian history by location and architecture. Consequently, in some cases farm tourism is a form of rural tourism. Farm tourism is used mainly in the strict sense of the word, namely the stay at the farm, either in rooms or in adjacent buildings or in tents. However, the product of "farm tourism" can also be interpreted in a broader sense by including services and facilities that enable a stay at the farm and make it attractive. Generally the supply of meals, snacks (on the base of local farm products) and animation could possibly also be included as part of services and facilities. More and more farmers go beyond offering the tourists various products and services : sale on the spot of farm products and traditional handcrafts, which can be taken as souvenirs, putting land at the disposal of tourists for hobby farming, opening museunilike facilities through which the tourist can get acquainted with craftsmanship, such as cheese making, wine production, tobacco planting, mushroom farming and various stock breeding. Some farms concentrate on specific target groups, for example the sports-loving holidays-makers (hikers, horsemen, fishermen, hunters, golfplayers) or on particular groups such as children, elderly people and handicapped people. Dobremez (1994) quotes that for France, only 1.6 % of all farms are concerned with farm tourism. This amount increases to 3 % in mountain areas, and up to 9 % in the higher mountains. 13

In summary, every activity that meet the following conditions, shall be seen as rural tourism:

taking place in rural areas; small scale; using local resources (economic, social, cultural and natural); the multiplier-effect has a local character.

4.2. Rural and Agritourism in Switzerland

Agritourism represents only a very small share of tourism in Switzerland. It is so small, that it does not even appear in the statistical records. In Switzerland, four regional associations are promoting rural- and agritourism: Federation du tourisme rural de la Suisse romande; Verein Ferien auf dem Bauernhof (related to the Swiss farmer's Union); Emmental, Bauernhofferien fiir Kinder und Familien; Ffu Ferien im Grilnen Biinderland. These four associations are promoting six hundred accomodation units. The relation to overall tourist accomodation (over 1 mio beds) and the farming community (110.000 farms) shows the still underdevelopped rural tourism in Switzerland. The statistical records of the "Federation du tourisme rural de la Suisse Romande" (Schule, undated) indicates that accomodation is rented on average between 11 to 12 weeks a year. The guests are mainly from Switzerland (60%). In some cases, tourism can account up to 12% or more of the family income.

Different facts may explain the modest situation of agritourism in Switzerland : the great potential for tourism in the Alps has led, since the end of the 19th century, to the building up of a tourist industry. The strong agricutlural policy, heavily financed through the public government and the consumers (high commodity prices) gave only little incentives for farm families to look for additional income through agritourism. Decentralised urban areas and industries in the plain areas offer more interesting possibilities for additional earnings to part-time farm-families than agritourism. The situation might change in the future. In the frame of the GATT treaty, the Swiss government has started to reduce the commodity prices and to develop a direct payment policy. This might give new incentives for farm families to become active in agritourism.

It is only recently that the federal farming policiy is promoting agritourism through loans with no or low interest rates. There is no common marketing for Swiss agritourism. Furthermore, there is a problem in focusing tourism too munch on the farming community. Tourism may be a potential opportunity for the development of rural areas. But, to be really successful, and to promote a sustainable development in rural areas, the most effective strategy is to make tourism a part of a community integrated development. Only few rural communities are likely to bring about rural development solely through the mechanism of tourism. On the otherhand, only few farm-families are likely to gain sustainable and effective income opportunities solely through farm-tourism. The farming community has to enter a joint venture with the rural community as a whole in promoting rur~l tourism. 14

4.3. Basic conditions and dilemmas for a sustainable rural tourism

Unlike in Switzerland, agritourism has become an important economic activity in some West-European countries (in France, Ireland and Austria for example). The European Union has launched a programm to promote agritourism on a larger scale. Agritourism is also promoted in the East-European countries. Various authors recall that to become successfull, agritourism needs, as tourism in general, to be based on a comprehensive strategy. Dietvorst, quoted by Kloeze (1994) recalls the conditions which are to be fullfilled if tourism has to contribute to sustainable rural development.

Five conditions for a sustainable rural development through tourism : 1. The region has to be accessible and to be characterised by a certain quality of amenities. 2. The possibilities for a successful combination of local physical potential (landscape, cultural heritage, lodging and catering facilities), a promising image and local management capabilities. 3. A spatial setting aimed to promote multifunctional use on a local and regional level. From the viewpoint of sustainability this presupposes a good balance between low dynamic characteristics and high dynamic characteristics. 4. The presence of local initiatives or if not available, the willingness of local and regional authorities in creating and stimulating private initiatives. 5. The search for links-up between the various forms of tourism (i.e. cultural tourism, nature tourism, farm tourism, survival tourism and so on) is also a success factor. Important is that coordination is achieved in networks, that transport access and opening up areas are guaranteed, and that public information campains are coordinated.

Four dilemmas on sustainable rural tourism : 1. The dilemma as to whether the interest of the public authorities and the interests of the private entrepreneurs can co-exist. 2. The dilemma of preserving and maintaining authenticity and the danger of the "musealisation" of the countryside. 3. The dilemma of the attractiveness of an unspoiled coutryside for the tourist product development and the growing flows of tourist polluting the environment. 4. The dilemma of the desired modernisation of the local culture and the threatening of local traditions.

From the economic point of view, one has to be aware of the fact that rural tourism is characterised by a strong seasonal latency. Due to this, the rentability of the investments are limited. Lack of education in the field of agritourism, and specific labour needs at the same period for both traditional farm activities and farm tourism are a few major issues which are faced by an extension of tourism in rural areas.

The author lists the following characteristics of a sustainable agritourism : 1. The developement of rural tourism supposes a market oriented approach out of an integrated product thinking. Visitors should be offered a variety 15

of touristic elemments to be able to assemble ideas by themselves to make an attractive holiday or a day out. 2. Integrated product thinking supposes a public-private networking in certain areas. Without sound cooperation an attractive rural tourist product will not be constructed. In additon, cooperation on and between the distinguished levels is important. 3. Though the development of rural tourism may not lead to inertia and musealisation of landscapes and rural communities, rural tourist product has to be contextual, that means embedded in the context of a landscape. In doing so the starting-points of "soft tourism" can be an expedient. 4. A sound product development is unthinkable without systematic monitoring for quality guarding and strategy development.

Those findings and recommandations for a sustainable agritourism are quite close to the findings of the Swiss MAB-Programme for the tourism in Swiss mountain areas.

5. Conclusions

Tourism is a major branch of the Swiss economy. Foreign guests account for as much as half of the Swiss tourism. Tourism expanded rapidly after world war two. Especially in mountain areas, the expanding tourism sector became the most important economic activity, matching the decrease of the farming activities. Since the early eighties however, tourism is not growing any longer. Especially climatic changes are augmenting the uncertainty for the future of Swiss alpine tourism. The tourist resorts located in lower alpine areas are most affected by this new situation; From th~ environmental point of view, the tremendous expansion of winter tourism has, in some places, threatened the natural balance. Since the early eighties, scientists have pointed out the problems which arises from this unbalanced development, mainly on the increasing expansion of transportation and accommodations capacities. Rural tourism is underdeveloped in Switzerland. It still has a potential to grow. This potential however should no be over estimated. In many cases, tourism has been, and still is, a very promising sector to improve the living conditions of mountain and rural communities. To improve the positive effects of tourism based development for these communities, it is very important that tourism is embedded in the social and environmental context of the area. Mountain and rural communities have an active role to play in shaping and implementing an integrated development programme of which tourism is a part.

Bibliography

Dobremez L. (1994), Adaptation des exploitations agricoles en montagne, m "Information Techniques du CEMAGREF", nO 96, Antony, F.

Keller Peter (1990), Politique du tourisme et developpement rural: une analyse pour le comite du tourisme de l'OCDE, OFIAMT, Berne, CH 16

Kloze J.W. (1994), The Benefits of Rural Tourism. the role of the state, and the Aspects of Training and cooperation (Conference "Rural Tourism Development in Bulgaria and in the Balkan Countries"), Karlova, Bulgaria

Krippendorf Jost anf Muller Hansruedi (1986), Alpsegen Alptraum - fiir eine Tourismus Entwicklung im Einklang mit Mensch und Natur, Kiimmerly und Frey, Bern, CH

Messerli Paul (1989) Mensch und Natur im alpinen Lebensraum - Risiken, Chancen, Perspektiven, Paul Haupt, Bern, CH

Messerli Paul (1990), Le developpement touristique dans un environnement incertain in "La Vie Economique" (no 12/90), OFIAMT, Berne, CH

Muller Hansruedi (1994), The thorny path to sustainable Tourism development in "The Journal of Sustainable Tourism" (Vol. 2 no 3. 1994), Channel view books, Clevedo.n, Avon, UK

Muller Hansruedi (1990), The case for developing tourism in harmony with man and nature, country side, Commission, B. Bramwell (Ed), Sheffield, GB

Peters K., Kloze J.W., van der Voet J.L.M (1994), Background paper on rural tourism and regional development, Wageningen NL (Conference)

Schule J.P. Office du tourisme, Payerne, CH, (1994) Divers documents, non publies

STF; (1994), Swiss Tourism in Figures, Swiss Tourism Federation, Bern, CH

Stucki E., et al. (1988), L'homme et la nature au Pays-d'Enhaut, Rapport final du programme national MAB-6, OFEFP, Berne

Stucki Erwin W. (1992), Le developpement du monde rural, script du cours, EPF-Zurich (non-publie) Institut far Agrarwirtschaft

Schriftenreihe/Publications

Jahr/ Titel und Autor/ Seiten/ Preis/ annee Titre et auteur pages prix

1991/1 Priorititen und Transparenz in der landwirtschaftlichen 19 5.- Forschung Peter Rieder

1991/2 Die Erhaltung der biuerlichen Kulturlandschaft der Alpen - 32 10.- agrar- und gesellschaftspolitische Instrumente und Hindemisse Peter Rieder

1991/3 A venir du monde rural et agriculture 16 5.- Erwin Stucki

1991/4 Changement de cap en politique agricole, le rOle des 14 5.- paiements directs Bernard Lehmann

1991/5 La transformation des systemes de production dans les Alpes 32 10.- a la lumiere de I'autonomie locale : analyse comparee du Val Calanca (GR) et du Val de Bagnes (VS) Erwin Stucki

1991/6 Etude sur le developpement equilibre du monde rural en Europe 65 10.- Erwin Stucki

1992/1 Agrarstrukturentwicklungen in der Schweiz unter Aspekten 14 5.- nationaler Agrarpolitik und laufender intemationaler Ver- handlungen Peter Rieder

1992/2 Le developpement dans la Vallee des Ormonts: quel role pour 16 5.- I' agriculture de montagne dans le developpement local? Erwin Stucki

1992/3 IER-CERME I Rapport d'activite 1991/Programme1992 30 10.- Erwin Stucki

1992/4 Sustainable Development in Rural Areas Some Methodolo- 55 10.- gical Issus Urs Egger

1992/5 Landwirtschaftlicher Bodenmarkt und Bodenpolitik 50 10.- Peter Rieder/RolfHuber

1992/6 Abaisser les coots de production ou comment maintenir notre 10 5.- avantage concurrentiel? Bernard Lehmann

1992/7 Betriebswirtschaftliche Aspekte der Erwerbskombination 10 5.- Bernard Lehmann

1992/8 Strategien fiir landwirtschaftliche Unternehmungen in der 38 10.- Schweiz von morgen Bernard Lehmann Jahr/ Titel und Autor/ Seiten/ Preis/ an nee Titre et auteur pages prix

1992/9 Introduction to Financial and Economic Analysis of Agri- 57 10.- cultural Projects Pradeep ltty I Alain Bidaux

1992/10 LE SKI ALPIN: one industrie indispensable pour le develope- 40 10.- ment de la Vallee de la Jogne? E. Stucki/D. Girard/S. Guindani/B. Barbe

1992/11 Espace, societe et territoire one etude de cas: la commune de 96 10.- Bagnes S. Guindani!N Kess/er/S. Gautschi

1992/12 Regionale und globale Umweltbelastungen durch die Land- 17 5.- wirtschaft Urs Egger

1992/13 Estimation monetaire des externalites de l'agriculture 43 10.- (Identification des externalites de l'agriculture et etude des possibilities d'evaluation empirique) Torsten Redies

1992/14 Strategies pour entreprises agricoles suisses; und conception 22 10.- de base Bernard Lehmann

1992/15 La Politique Agricole Commune: quelques reperes 19 5.- Dominique Barjolle

1993/1 Marketing-Organisation in der Schweizer Landwirtschaft 23 10.- Robert J6rin

1993/2 ldeen und Geistesgeschichte der europiischen Agrarpolitik 30 10.- Peter Rieder

1993/3 Eine wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Analyse der landwirtschaft- 29 10.- lichen Nutzung organischer BOden in der Schweiz Renan Goetz

1993/4 Agrarschutz fiir hors sol-Produkte? 54 20.- Sibyl Anwander Phan-huy

1993/5 Lenkungsabgaben auf Diinger 117 25 .- Entscheidungselemente fur die Einfilhrung von Lenkungsabgaben auf Mineraldiinger und Hofdiingeriiberschiisse Bernard Lehmann

1994/1 Setting Pigouvian Taxes Correctly - an Extension Renan Goetz 14 5.-

1994/2 Volkswirtschaftliche Analyse nachwachsender Rohstoffe am Beispiel Rapsmethylester Thomas Braunschweig/Peter Rieder 35 10.-

1994/3 Berglandwirtschaft in der Schweiz Peter Rieder 25 10.- Jahr/ Titel und Autor/ Seiten/ Preis/ an nee Titre et auteur pages prix

1994/4 Commercialisation, Marketing agro-alimentaire (exemples: produits regionaux) B. Lehmann!D. Barjolle/ A. Silauri 91 20.-

1995/1 Colloque DGR/EPFL & IER/ETHZ inauguration Institut d'economie rurale, antenne romande (IER-AR) Erwin W Stucki 29 10.-

1995/2 On tourism in Switzerland: tourism and sustainable development in mountain regions and in rural areas 16 5.- Erwin W Stucki

BESTELLUNG/COMMANDE Name und Vomame/ Norn et prenom : ...... , ...... Adresse:

Schrift Nr./publication 00: ...... Einsenden an/ IAW/ETHZ, Sekretariat envoyer a: ETH-Zentrum, 8092 ZURICH