Visitors to Canton Lucerne will soon have to pay double the amount of tourist tax, under plans announced by the regional government. Lawmakers hope the measure will help make visitor numbers more sustainable, as the spectre of overtourism looms large over central Switzerland.
According to the cantonal government of Lucerne, people who stay overnight in the canton will pay twice as much tourist tax from the beginning of 2026. The tax will increase from 50 rappen (cents) per person per night to 1,1 francs. Though the hike is significant, the tourist tax in Lucerne will remain one of the cheapest in Switzerland.
With its stunning lake, old town, and the famous Chapel Bridge, Lucerne and the surrounding region remain the biggest tourist hotspots in Switzerland. According to the most recent data, 2,4 million overnight stays were reported in the canton in 2024, a new record.
While this popularity has benefited local businesses and the wider economy, the sheer number of visitors is taking its toll on the city’s residents and the tourists themselves. Last year, according to Blick, tourists were pictured spending the night in their cars and vans in public parking lots due to the demand for camping space in the region.
The new measure also comes as the backlash against overtourism hits the headlines, as locals fear rising visitor numbers will lead to shortages in affordable homes and rising prices. This has been seen most vividly this summer in Spain, where activists are spraying tourists with water pistols as a form of protest.
The hike in tourist tax is the latest in a series of measures Lucerne is taking to ease visitor numbers. The others include severely restricting Airbnb in the city (to limited effect) and mandating a new booking system for visitors arriving by coach.
The higher fee is expected to bring in an extra 1,3 million francs a year, money authorities say will be spent on promoting sustainable tourism. "Tourism in Lucerne should continue to act as a beacon in the future – it conveys the attractive living and economic conditions of the Canton of Lucerne to the outside world and, in doing so, unites the diversity of our region," FDP cantonal councillor Fabian Peter noted.
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