Switzerland | Planning to Introduce a Tax for Visitors in Transit Only

 Switzerland is planning to introduce a tax for visitors in transit only. Switzerland’s Council of States has unanimously approved a proposal to levy transit tax on road crossing the country without stopping.

The initiative was launched by Tessin, Italian -speaking canton in the south of the country bordering Italy and Uri canton that covers the valley of the Reuss between the St. Gotthard Pass and Lake Lucerne.

Representative of the cantons relied on Article 84 paragraph 1 of the Swiss Constitution that obliges the Confederation to protect the Alpine region from harmful effects of transit traffic and to limit its burden to a level harmless to people, animals, flora and habitats.

While endorsed at the Council of States, the motion now still needs approval in the other chamber, the National Council and to be reconciled to the executive body, the Federal Council to be definitely repealed. 

The latter has so far expressed negative statements about such motion. The Federal Coucil estimates that such levy would generate legal issues, with the EU, as Switzerland being bordered by Austria, France, Germany and Italy, all countries members of the European community, constitutional issues within the country and also administrative problems to implement it, and it would also generate costs to activate it.

This motion from various Swiss parties was approved for a due tax for vehicle, entering Switzerland from one neighbouring nation and exits into another neighbouring country without a significant stay in the Swiss territory and depending of the time of day, day of the week and traffic density, the levy would vary and the fee would be collected automatically by license plate scans at the border.

The new transit fee for international tourists who cross Switzerland without staying overnight would be in addition to the annual highway vignette, which costs about €43 and which is already collected as a transit fee for using Switzerland’s infrastructure.

Any travellers from Austria, entering in the St. Gallen and Grisons cantons, Southwestern France accessing in the Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern, Basel - Landschachf, and Basel - Stad cantons, from Germany entering in the Basel - Landschaft, Basel Stadt, Aargau, Zurich and Thurgau cantons or Italy via the Valais, Ticino and Grisons cantons confirm Switzerland as a more than relevant crossroads in the heart of Europe.

Traffic jams near the strategic Gothard Tunnel or along the Geneva Lake on the motorway linking Geneva to Lausanne in the French speaking cantons testify of the role played by Switzerland as a country transit.

Finally, it’s likely that this motion will come to a conclusion in 2026 with a public vote in a referendum.  

Link 

https://www.travelmole.com/news/new-taxes-tourism-switzerland/