The National Council's Committee on Political Institutions voted on Friday to reject a parliamentary initiative filed by deputy Thomas Aeschi from the rightwing Swiss People Party (SVP), which called for the introduction of a 25-franc ‘entry fee’ for foreign tourists.
According to the motion, this tax would be used to combat ‘overtourism’ and its proceeds would be donated to the state pension fund.
The MPs decided, however, that this measure would be "extremely complicated and costly to implement": for example, it would require the reintroduction of systematic border controls.
It would also go against the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons that Switzerland signed with the European Union.
Another, somewhat similar motion, is still before the MPs: they have not yet weighed in on a proposal of another SVP deputy, who wants to make foreign nationals pay a tax for the privilege of living in Switzerland.
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