Dimitri Burkhard1. One third of the surface area is covered with mountains, but younger generations prefer FarmVille from actual farming (no brainer). This trend results in many struggling alpine villages with deteriorating infrastructures.
2. The Swiss population is rapidly aging, and older generations prefer to retire in sunny, mediterranian places like Spain.
Ok, so hear me out: A work group at the government put their thinking hats on (surprise!) and has proposed that our dying alpine villages become more attractive for seniors. In addition to already-covered basics like access to medical care and a healthy climate, they argue that the familiarity with Swiss culture will actually help retirees feel more at home.
Really? I guess ordering milk coffee in Swiss German beats using hands and feet to communicate with a Spanish waiter, right? So in essence, you might soon encounter tourist destinations declaring that they are "senior friendly", as opposed to just "family friendly" like in the past...
Actually, I think this is quite a feasible idea, as long as villages replace their last-century farmer disco's and provide high-speed wireless coverage. These will be prerequisites for the many young nurses who will be required to live in the Alps soon and care for grandma and grandpa!
What do you think of this idea? Why not kill two birds with one stone, or "two flies with one swat", as the Swiss like to say... Let us know in the comments!
I think its a great idea but this is not just about keeping rural areas filled with people but more a societal initiative that will bring families closer together again. Nowadays families tend to be so brocken up whether through divorces, geographical distance, fewer children born, and outsourcing grandparents to OAP homes. The long term trend should be to bring families closer together. This is one step closer in that direction. Well done the swiss.
Hi Claudio,
Thank you for your insightful comment! I would agree on your assessment that families need to be “protected”, and this is certainly one approach…