The Epoch Times October 22, 2009 Switzerland strives for eco-tourism capital of the World title By Ruth and Rich Carlson
By RUTH & RICH CARLSON Talk to a Swiss person about the international impressions of their breathtakingly beautiful country and they’ll sigh. They say people confuse it with Sweden, ask about Heidi, think it’s the place Hollywood filmed “The Sound of the Music” (that was Austria), and connect it with chocolate, cheese, and watches. The Swiss still specialize in these goods, but they want you to know they offer so much more (www.myswitzerland.com): It’s a mini United Nations with four official languages; German, French, Italian, and Roman, (a form of Latin), in addition to the unofficial Swiss dialects; It may be the most eco-friendly place on the planet. The Swiss practiced sustain-ability before sustainable was a trend; Fitness is a way of life with outdoor gear prominently displayed in Zurich’s chi-chi department stores. Locals seem to begin hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing at the same time they’re learning to walk. Despite being a land- locked country they made history by winning America’s Cup, the premier international yachting race, and they regularly cheer on local tennis star Roger Federer; Sports aren’t the only teams making headlines; the Swiss also have an award-winning national culinary team, and a wine region recently classified as a UNESCO site; While the rest of the world struggles with the great recession, Switzerland was recently named the most competitive economy by the World Economic Forum. You may not have enough money to invest in a Swiss bank account but Swiss Air makes everyone feel like a V.I.P., with larger than average coach seats, and they still offer complimentary drinks and hot meals, unusual in these budget-cutting times. The Nature and eco angle: Among this impressive list of accomplishments, none can compare to the country’s vast, unspoiled natural beauty and suddenly it’s expanding. Like fondue, the Switzerland border is oozing into Italy. Melting glaciers means the Swiss can now claim 164 yards on a ridge near Zermatt. Surprisingly there is currently only one official national park in Switzerland; however, the government just passed a law to create a national park system to ensure the land stays pristine. Mr. Jean-Bruno Wettstein, manager of the Parc Jurassien Vaudois (Jurassic Park), told us that the Watch Valley region, formerly famous for time-pieces, is now gaining a reputation for nature lovers. Miles of low stonewalls once used by local farmers to corral cattle are now being reconstructed for hikers and bikers to admire. For the athletic: There are trails throughout Switzerland for all athletic abilities-smooth wide pastures, tiny, winding tree-lined paths along a mossy carpet, and even areas designed for nude backpackers, which might be taking the new national tourism slogan, get natural, to extremes! Kneipping is an unusual health regimen created by a Swiss priest. Tourists can practice the lifestyle by following illustrations on a self-guided parcours. Among the stops are signs instructing hikers to grab on to a rope while walking barefoot in mountain streams, strip to their underwear and immerse their body in the chilly water, play steel drums, ring bells, and reflect in a chapel! Try The Wine... Bicyclists throng to steep roads of Lavaux, located in the Montreux Riviera,“The Swiss Riviera,” above the sparkling blue sapphire of Lake Geneva. It made the UNESCO Heritage list two years ago, the first such classification in western Switzerland, primarily because of the unusual vineyards, which are planted in rows similar to tea on steep hills. “In the last ice age, a glacier formed [the area] and people wanted to plant crops but the land was too steep,” says Dominique Bittel of the Montreux-Vevey Tourism Board. “Monks came up with idea of creating terraces to grow wine.” “The steepest terrain makes the best wine,” according to Jean Vogel, owner of Domaine Vogel vineyard. Nicknamed “The King of Lavaux,” Vogel specializes in crisp white wines and light reds such as Syrah. Great wine is served with gour- met meals in the most remote areas. One Swiss evening our al fresco dinner in the Valais Valley was capped off by a striking light show. Using the mountains as a canvas, pyrotechnic experts lit bonfires in the lower valley to illuminate the Alps’ majestic beauty. This area was discovered by smug- glers who traveled the mule trail into Italy, then became popular with prospectors looking for rock crystals. Today it’s tourists who are discovering the wealthiest prize of all—gourmet food in unspoiled nature. ...and dine: France, Italy, and Spain are some of the first countries that come to mind when you mention fine dining, but the Swiss culinary team is devising new recipes to change that opinion. Six chefs have been chosen to compete in the world’s cooking exhibitions taking place in Singapore and Luxembourg. Swiss chef Kilian Michlig says “...teams from the north of Europe and Asia have gained strength over the past years. For us, this simply means that good is not enough. We need to be even more creative...” The chefs volunteer their time for this honor, over 600 hours of training, trial sessions, and exhibits! Organic food goes together with the country’s eco-awareness. At the Hotel Castle in Blitzingen, located on a steep, narrow, winding mountain path, owners Peter and Brigitte Gschwendtner serve fresh ingredients gathered from their surrounding acreage. This includes herbs, flowers, mushrooms, peaches, raspberries, and venison. It’s hard to concentrate on the meal, though, when a panoramic view of the snow-covered Alps beckons diners. Travel made easy: Reaching even the most remote mountain areas of the Alps is not a problem with the most extensive public transportation system in the world. Get a Swiss pass (www.swisstravelsystem.ch) to make your travel easier and save money. It works for trains, trams, buses, boats, and everything in between and, if you’re bored waiting for your link, visit the professional exhibits. Currently the Zurich train station has dinosaur replicas. “The Swiss want to be the most public transportation friendly coun- try in the world,” our new Swiss friend Christina commented. As you’d expect in this country famous for expensive watches, public tran- sit runs like clockwork. The gov- ernment also has clearly marked tourist offices in major locations, (like train stations), where you can get helpful advice and directions—in English. With a new national park plan, excellent public transportation, vast amounts of open spaces and a respect for traditional agricultural products, it’s clear that Switzerland is vying to be the first travel choice for tourists concerned about the environment. They are succeeding because many people have learned during these tough economic times that one thing you can’t buy is nature.
Ruth and Rich Carlson are an award-winning travel writing team with over 40 years of experience in print and broadcast media outlets. Together they write and photograph articles on destinations around the globe and produce a television program broadcast on Google TV and cable outlets seen in a million homes in California. Their web site is www.talkintravel.com.
