Death of former director of tourism announced

The death has been announced of Kurt A. Diermeier, who, for 17 years, between 1980 and 1997, was director of tourism for central Switzerland.
 
Diermeier was one of the first to pioneer sustainable tourism during his period in office, which coincided with a boom in coach tours to the area. What was of utmost importance to him was not just ensuring money from tourism flowed in but that nature was left intact, with tourists able to enjoy the beauty of the mountains and all the different attractions there were to enjoy in the Lake Lucerne region in particular. It was he, too, who was instrumental in setting up the School of Tourism where he also lectured from 1991-1996. Indeed he was also chairman of the council of the Institute for Tourist Economy at the Lucerne School of Business Studies.
 
One of the highlights of Diermeier’s career was accompanying the Queen and Prince Philip to the Rütli on the occasion of their visit to Switzerland in 1980.
 
He and his wife Sonja lived in Hünenberg but they also had a holiday home in Mostelberg in the Sattel Hochstuckli area. It was here where he died unexpectedly but peacefully last Saturday night, shortly before his 80^th birthday, having spent the previous evening enjoying a barbecue and playing cards with his family.
 
In addition to his widow, Diermeyer leaves two grown-up children and three grandchildren.