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At first glance, a WEF in May looks like a great opportunity for tourism in Davos. But appearances are deceptive.
The WEF has actually been over for almost four months at this point in the year and the people of Davos and tourists have been storing their skis for a long time. This year, however, some things are different because the WEF was postponed to spring due to the corona pandemic. The political and business elite is now equipped with an umbrella or a sun hat instead of a thick winter coat.
Ambiguous tourism industry
In January, the WEF and tourism go hand in hand. People have gotten used to the timing for years, it fills the January hole and the event and winter tourism hardly touch each other. The World Economic Forum has become an integral part of the Davos-Klosters tourism region.
However, the postponement to May now poses challenges for the industry, which is why regional tourism experts are divided. At first glance, a spring WEF looks like a great opportunity due to the temperatures and the resulting opportunities.
Legend:
No snow but spring-like changeable: The WEF in Davos is currently taking place in May as usual in January.
key stone
The international guests have new or different tourist offers than in winter, the days are longer, the radius of action is larger, trips to side valleys are more possible because of the better accessibility.
Staff and parking issues
On the other hand, it is difficult to find qualified staff for a week in the middle of the low season, says Tamara Henderson, President of Hotel Gastro Davos. “It was already difficult to find employees last winter because many no longer work in the industry because of Corona,” she says.
Importantly, it wasn’t canceled entirely.
The lack of snow also becomes a problem when you take a closer look: in winter, any free meadow can become a parking space thanks to the snow. Now in spring the farmers need the land for cultivation. “It’s not all better in May,” says Henderson.
Also in the future in May?
After a request from SRF, those responsible did not provide any information on whether the WEF should also take place in the spring instead of in January. What is particularly important for the Davos tourism region is that it takes place at all.
Not like in the past two years. “We had major restrictions for two years: no WEF, no Spengler Cup, fewer guests in general. The important thing is that it hasn’t been cancelled,” says Tamara Henderson.