Lucerne remains part of the “Grand Tour of Switzerland”: Parliament decides against removing signs
The city of Lucerne will remain an official part of the “Grand Tour of Switzerland.” The city parliament recently voted against a proposal by the Social Democratic Party (SP). As a result, the city will keep its brown signposts, which guide tourists through the region and point out the most important sights.
The “Grand Tour of Switzerland” is a well-known route for travelers who wish to discover the country's most beautiful locations by car or motorcycle. Lucerne has been a central stop on this route for years. The signs show visitors the way through the city and thus promote tourism throughout Central Switzerland.
The SP parliamentary group had demanded that Lucerne withdraw from the project. A primary reason for this demand was criticism of individual motorized transport. The party argued that the route brought too much traffic into the city and that the signs were unnecessary. The City Council was also originally prepared to consider removing the signposts.
However, the city parliament viewed the situation differently than the SP and the City Council. A majority of politicians decided that participation in the Grand Tour was important for the city's image. They emphasized that Lucerne is a world-famous tourist city and that navigation for guests must remain as simple as possible. For this reason, the SP's motion was rejected.
For tourists and the local economy, nothing will change for the time being as a result of this decision. The characteristic signposts will remain in place. Lucerne will therefore continue to be a fixed part of the travel plans for many international and national guests who wish to explore Switzerland on wheels.