After Tourists Flock Following Drama Appearance, Swiss Village Struggles with "Pay Toll" Demand

"Happy About Increasing Tourists but Hard to Handle"
Iseltwald Village Charges 7,200 Won Toll Fee

A lakeside village in Switzerland, which served as a filming location for the Korean drama 'Crash Landing on You,' has decided to charge an entrance fee to tackle overtourism.

According to European media outlet Euronews on the 11th (local time), thousands of tourists flocked to Iseltwald, a small lakeside village with a population of 400 that was a filming location for 'Crash Landing on You,' prompting the local government to start charging an entrance fee.

The drama 'Crash Landing on You,' which aired from 2019 to 2020, tells the story of North Korean officer Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and South Korean chaebol heir Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) falling in love. Notably, Iseltwald was the backdrop for a scene where Ri Jeong-hyeok plays the piano while reminiscing about his brother during his studies in Switzerland.

The Swiss village of Iseltwald, the filming location of "Crash Landing on You." [Image source=tvN 'Crash Landing on You']

The popularity of the series across Asia, including Korea and Japan, along with the recent increase in overseas travel demand, has led to a surge in tourists visiting the area.

Titia Vaillant, an employee at the local tourist office, said, "The number of tourists has exploded," and added, "Almost everyone in Iseltwald is happy about the increase in tourists, but it is also becoming difficult to manage." She further stated, "Iseltwald is like a paradise on earth, and we want to keep it that way."

In particular, the increase in tourist buses entering the village has caused traffic congestion and blocked access roads, causing significant inconvenience to residents. Some locals complained, saying, "'Crash Landing on You' fans take photos at the pier and mess up the surroundings but hardly pay any money."

Ultimately, the local government introduced a reservation system for the parking lot, allowing only pre-booked buses to enter. Additionally, a ticket gate was installed at the lakeside pier, requiring visitors to pay 5 Swiss francs (approximately 7,200 KRW) to access the pier.

Cases of Overseas Tourist Taxes Being Imposed or Raised, Including in Venice

On the 21st of last month (local time), a Korean visitor is taking photos at the Iseltwald pier in Switzerland. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Iseltwald is not the only place struggling with overtourism. Some famous international tourist destinations have been imposing or raising tourist taxes to address overtourism.

Venice, Italy, will start charging day-trippers an entrance fee of 3 to 10 euros (approximately 4,150 to 13,850 KRW) from next month. This measure is reportedly aimed at protecting the area's natural resources. Barcelona, Spain, also raised its tourist tax to 2.75 euros (about 3,800 KRW) starting April 1.

In the United States, Hawaii passed a bill requiring tourists aged 15 and older who do not reside in the state to obtain a one-year valid tourist permit with a fee of 50 dollars (approximately 64,500 KRW). The fee is known to be used for protecting Hawaii's natural environment, including coral reef restoration, pest control in native forests, and patrols to protect Hawaii's iconic dolphins and turtles. Additionally, tourist taxes are levied on visitors in places such as Manchester in the UK, Thailand, and Bhutan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.