Tourism
Tourism plays a key role in the NRP target areas. It therefore also forms a thematic funding priority in the 2024–2031 multi-annual programme. Through this, the Confederation is supporting structural change with the aim of making individual destinations more competitive and enhancing Switzerland’s overall competitiveness as a tourist destination in the international arena.
The NRP is one of four funding instruments under the Confederation's tourism policy (see also the Confederation's tourism strategy). In collaboration with other sectoral policies with a spatial impact, Switzerland’s position as a tourist destination is being further strengthened. The NRP supports projects aimed at developing innovative tourism products and services, skills development initiatives and value-added tourism infrastructure. Cooperation projects involving various tourism stakeholders may also be co-funded.
Developing marketable products and services
The NRP helps to support quality and product development with a view to extending value chains in tourism. New, innovative products and services enrich the tourism value system and generate additional income opportunities. Projects may, for example, involve analyses of value creation processes and market potential, or the bundling of services to create extended value chains. Nature-based tourism and agri-tourism services and products present opportunities in this regard, as demonstrated by the Digital Village Road Adelboden (in German) project.
Regional training initiatives
A key factor for success is a regionally available, well-qualified workforce, as well as innovative entrepreneurs. The NRP can provide targeted support through training initiatives and coaching for tourism service providers – such as the development of further training programmes, coaching for tourism service providers, or programmes to promote entrepreneurship. Examples of this include Digitourism: Digitalisation in the service of Valais tourism (in German) and the Hospitality Pop-up Academy in Graubünden (in German).
Inter-company networking and cooperation
The various service providers and accommodation establishments at destination level are being supported in their efforts to overcome the disadvantages of the often small-scale tourism sector. The focus is on project initiatives such as cross-sector collaborations, projects for the shared use of strategic resources, and coordination or marketing platforms. Examples of this include the World Heritage Experience Switzerland cooperation platform and Il Larice – a meeting point and networking project (in German).
Securing or implementing value-added infrastructure
Value-added infrastructure in tourist destinations must form a basis on which destinations can develop, or substantially complement the existing offering as part of the tourism value chain. Individual projects must be innovative and value-added, whilst also being aligned with the principles of sustainable development. Eligible for funding are, for example, priority infrastructure at destination level such as tourist transport facilities, thermal spas, conference facilities, sports facilities of supra-regional importance or indoor facilities. In the accommodation sector, the NRP can support publicly accessible seminar facilities, wellness centres or sports facilities run by hotels that represent a relevant offering at destination level. For example, the Pôle touristique in La Chaux-de-Fonds (in French), the construction of a treetop walk in Laax (in German) and the Klangcampus visitor centre in Toggenburg (in German) send a strong signal for their respective regions.
Further information
Index
Contact
Promotion Activities Directorate
Regional Policy
Holzikofenweg 36
CH - 3003 Bern