Aegeri Valley-Sattel,25.09.2017

New tourist concept outlined

A new marketing concept has been set up by the Aegeri Valley - Sattel Tourist Association (VÄST), part of which includes beginners’ courses in winter sports explained in English, especially for expats.
 
Last week, the chairman of VÄST, Fridolin Bossard, and his team outlined five main areas where the association would like to promote tourism. These include providing seminar visitors with an attractive leisure programme to assist team-building as well as ensuring there is sufficient publicity surrounding all activities which can be enjoyed on and around Lake Aegeri, not forgetting the new pool complex expected to open next year. Then there is the idea of luring school children and families to the area to learn all about Swiss history, and to encourage families in particular to come cycling and hiking in the area, and not least to benefit from all the lovely facilities there are to have barbecues. In addition, it is hoped visitors will come in greater numbers to enjoy all the winter sports on offer in the Nollen skiing area as well as on the Raten and Hochstuckli. Indeed, it is in this area where the association plans to organise these winter sports beginners’ courses, all explained in English, for the benefit of expats, as mentioned.
 
“We are not trying to re-invent the area but we are trying to bring together all this attractive region has to offer and market it in an innovative way,” said Fridolin, as he went on to explain that complete packages would be offered, for example, to teaching staff accompanying school groups there, with the possibility of a “generation route” set up on the Aegeri Valley Panorama Path for the enjoyment of children, parents and senior citizens. The association is also looking to lure more “leisure cyclists”, perhaps involving local cycle shops and offering e-bikes for hire, ensuring there is also somewhere where they can be re-charged, of course. Indeed, the organisation is looking to cooperation with all those connected with tourism in the area.
 
At present, anyone wanting to find out what is on offer can consult Facebook, go to the www.aegerital-sattel.ch website or check out the Aegeri Valley Panorama Path brochure. In fact a new brochure entitled “Experience History” is being compiled, outlining all one needs to know, for example about the Battle of Morgarten (in 1315), the Dufour museum in Sattel (relating to the famous general), the Philipsburg bunker in Unterägeri and the Bloodhound surface-to-air missile station on the Gubel near Menzingen. Among those potential visitors initially targeted will be those living not too far off in both the cantons of Zug and Schwyz in addition to the residents of the Knonaueramt and the southern shores of Lake Zurich, and even the city itself. Not that the association is looking solely at day visitors; after all, in addition to lovely hotels there are lots of holiday flats and campsites in the area, too. “We are not looking to lure crowds,” said Bossard. “but we do want to ensure full use is made of what accommodation is available, and that people will enjoy themselves so much here that they will want to come again.”