Switzerland has become the latest country to hit back at tourists in a bid to protect their rare flowers from being trampled on.
Locals have complained of tourists trampling rare alpine plants – such as the edelweiss – in their rush to take selfies in front of the iconic Matterhorn peak.
Instagram influencers are particularly keen in capturing the famous Riffelsee lake where the peak of the Matterhorn is reflected in the waters.
And new officials in Zermatt, a mountain resort in Switzerland renowned for its skiing, climbing and hiking, have been forced to fence off pastures to ensure tourists stick to the marked paths to help the edelweiss flowers return.
The unique white mountain flower belongs to the daisy or sunflower family and symbolises deep love and devotion.
Jakob Graven, a gardener who tends the plants, said the edelweiss had disappeared’ from the region ‘because they were trampled on.’
The new walking routes mean visitors can observe the flowers from a distance, according to The Telegraph.
Adrian Möhl, project manager of the Alpine Garden, said: “People don’t do it maliciously. They just don’t realise that they’re standing on the plants.
“Since the new walking routes were established this summer, the situation has improved a lot.”
Elsewhere, Venice officials have threatened to double a daily tourist tax after concluding its summer trial to “discourage arrivals”.
The trial saw day-trippers paying an entrance fee during peak days of €5 (£4.20) and was introduced to manage tourist influx during high-traffic periods.
Tourism Councillor Simone Venturin believes Venice is “still too cheap” and speaking at a meeting about the 2025 Jubilee, he said: “We are considering a higher access fee to curb excessive tourism.”
She added: “The underlying logic is that Venice is not an unlimited resource; it must be regarded as a scarce commodity that not everyone can enjoy, thus increasing its value.”
Budget Councillor Michele Zuin explained the goal of doubling the entry fee was “to discourage arrivals as the initial experimental phase did not show significant disincentive effects”.
