The leading associations and service providers of Graubünden Tourism as well as the bourgeois national and state councils of Grisons are behind Grisons Olympic candidacy in 2022. The presidents of Grisons Vacations, Bergbahnen Grisons and Hotelleriesüisse Grisons emphasized the importance of winter tourism for the canton at a media briefing in Chur together with the bourgeois Grisons National and State Councils. Everyone present was convinced of the positive effects of an Olympic candidacy on tourism in Graubünden.
Tourism, business and politicians are behind Graubünden 2022
Chur, 3.1.2013
“Winter tourism is the core offer of the holiday destination of Grisons and the Olympic candidacy is a unique opportunity for tourism in Graubünden.” The diverse votes of all participants in the joint New Year's media conference on Thursday in Chur can be summed up in this simple denominator.
Marcel Friberg, President of Grisons Holidays, emphasized the great opportunities offered by the project: “The games provide a worldwide presentation platform for Grisons and the holiday destination of Switzerland. They will give the Graubünden tourism industry urgently needed impetus.”
Friberg also sees benefits from a candidacy for the Graubünden brand: “The candidacy is in many ways consistent with the long-term goals and values of the Graubünden brand.”
“A strong winter weekend can generate revenue for the entire summer for a mountain railway company,” said Silvio Schmid, President of Bergbahnen Graubünden, explaining the importance of winter business for mountain railways. “We must not stop investing in winter, because it feeds us and makes it possible for us to offer tourist offers and therefore year-round jobs even in summer.”
“Arosa 2022"
All participants at the media conference agreed that strengthening summer business was of great interest. However, it should not be at the expense of winter. “When we strengthen winter, we strengthen the whole year,” emphasized Andreas Züllig, President of hotelleriesuisse Grisons. For many hotel businesses, it is the added value from winter that only makes business possible in summer. “Graubünden 2022 is an investment in the winter sports destination of Grisons. It will ultimately pay off in summer as well.”
“There will also be an Arosa 2022,” surprised Pascal Jenny, Director of Arosa Tourism*.
“The Olympic Games bring a large number of congresses, sponsorship events and training camps. Not all of them can take place in St. Moritz or Davos; the entire canton will benefit. We are therefore already thinking about implementing measures for Arosa with regard to the 2022 Games.” Jenny, who formerly managed a television station, is also looking forward to the enormous media presence for Grisons: “Vancouver reached 3.8 billion people in 2010. That can only be achieved with the Olympic Games.”
Financially sustainable future project
“The Winter Olympics in Grisons are financially sustainable,” said FDP Council of States Martin Schmid, summarizing his remarks. The Olympic candidacy and the holding of the Games could be financed on the basis of the available financial reserves, without this disrupting the state budget or lacking funds elsewhere: “This is money that the canton has set aside for future projects, among other things. The Winter Olympics and the associated investments in our infrastructure are just such a future project.”
In addition, the Swiss Confederation is very heavily involved, which significantly alleviates the financial risks for the canton. Investments in the quality of Grisons infrastructure are also at the center of interest for CVP Council of States and RhB Chairman of the Board of Directors Stefan Engler. He underlined the improvements in public transport for the canton. “Graubünden finally needs a free connection to the airport in Zurich, for our holiday guests, for us locals, but also for the companies operating here. The assumption that all of this would happen anyway without the Olympic Games is unfortunately an illusion.”
BDP National Councillor Hansjörg Hassler emphasized the positive effects on tourism throughout the canton: “Grisons 2022 is a huge showcase for our tourism industry. An audience of billions all over the world will see winter in Grisons at its best. No holiday destination in the world should miss out on such an opportunity.”
Development project and dialogue platform
SVP National Councillor Heinz Brand finally underlined the importance for the Graubünden labor market: “Graubünden 2022 is also an impetus program for the Grisons economy. The investments and spending on hosting the Winter Olympics will create and secure jobs in tourism as well as in other sectors throughout the canton.”
“The reasons for a 'yes' are as broad as the project itself,” summarized Gian Gilli, Director of Grisons 2022, at the end. “Our development project 'Graubünden 2022 — Games that suit us” has initiated a discussion about the future for the Canton of Grisons and Switzerland. This idea concerns all generations and all walks of life, as Graubünden is now very actively discussing the future of tourism and future life in the mountains. Continuing this creative dialogue alone is worth running for the Olympics. That is why Graubünden will say yes on March 3.”
gartmann.biz supports Graubünden 2022 in media and marketing: Christian Gartmann is Head of Marketing & Communications at the Graubünden 2022 Association.