To promote the tourism infrastructure

COOPERATIVE

Wanted: pioneers with vision

Belief in the future and concern for one's own village.

Belief in the future and concern for one's own village.

 

Leading an up-and-coming mountain village into a successful tourist future: this was the goal when the cooperative for promoting a tourism infrastructure was founded 30 years ago and this remains its goal to the present day.

The history of the cooperative has been marked by successes as well as by setbacks. Many ideas led to success while others were less fruitful. But the cooperative was always looking ahead at new tasks and goals.

Today, the cooperative is once again faced with the question of which direction it should take. There is no immediate answer to this. But today more than ever, we are looking for pioneers with vision.

 

Origin

Once upon a time, there was a spirit of optimism...

Belief in the future and concern for one's own village were the birth factors of the cooperative for the promotion of the tourist infrastructure in Bellwald.

"I'll provide you with around three million francs in one year. I don't have a red cent yet, but I'll get it together." How would you react to this statement today? Exactly, you would dismiss it as stupid gossip, banish the content of the statement to the realm of fairy tales and legends.

But it was exactly this statement that was made on 8 February 1976 by the founders of the cooperative for the promotion of tourism infrastructure. They held out the prospect of 500,000 Swiss francs to the then ski lift company PUMAG to promote the expansion of the lifts in Bellwald.

Silly talk? Far from it, because within a year the cooperative kept its word, convinced many people who cared about Bellwald and raised the money. The cableways were extended and the rapid development of Bellwald took its course.

The starting point at that time was the fact that neither the municipality of Bellwald nor private companies were able to meet the financial demands that came with the rapid development of tourism in Bellwald. Within a very short time, the number of guest beds multiplied at the beginning of the 1970s. It was quickly realised in the mountain village that the infrastructure could not keep up with the number of guest beds without additional funds.

The foundations were lacking to allow builders and flat owners to participate in the development of the station by law. "So we had to set up our own bank to provide kick-off financing for necessary projects," recalls one founder. The idea was that everyone should contribute 500 francs per guest bed to the cooperative's capital. The money was to be used to develop and expand the tourist offer in the village, which in turn would benefit every flat owner.

"It was not child's play to convince people to provide the cooperative with 500 francs per guest bed," another founder looks back. "But we believed in the cause and together managed to convince locals, craftsmen and chalet owners from near and far that these funds would not benefit the cooperative but themselves." Members of various village associations went door to door in some cases to inform people.

After one year, more than 400,000 francs in capital had been collected. The foundation stone for the success of the cooperative had been laid and was to have a decisive influence on the development of the holiday resort of Bellwald.

The power of the feasible

* Cooperative participation

Municipality receives electricity

The first holiday home is built

Commissioning of the Fürgangen-Bellwald cable car

Construction of the first ski lift

Creation of the drinking water supply

Founding of the Tourist Association

With the founding of the tourist office, the change from a farming village to a tourist resort began.

 

Construction of the Hotel Wannenhorn

Construction of the second ski lift

Construction of the trainer lift

Opening of the road into the valley

450 guest beds and 30,000 overnight stays

Founding of Pro Unter- und Mittelgoms AG (PUMAG)

Construction of the third ski lift

  • Construction of the Richinen chairlift and the Matten ski lift*
  • Construction of the first tennis courts
  • Founding of the cooperative for the promotion of the tourism infrastructure Bellwald:

Belief in the future and concern for one's own village were the birthplace of the cooperative for the promotion of tourism infrastructure in Bellwald. "I'll make around three million francs available to you in one year. I don't have a red pony yet, but I'll get it together.” How would you react to this statement today? Exactly, you would dismiss it as stupid gossip, banish the content of the statement to the realm of fairy tales and legends. But exactly this statement was made on February 8, 1976 by the founders of the cooperative for the promotion of tourist infrastructure. They promised the then ski lift company PUMAG 500,000 francs to push ahead with the expansion of the lifts in Bellwald. Stupid chatter? Far from it, because the cooperative kept its word within a year, convinced many who cared about Bellwald and raised the money. The railways were expanded and the rapid development of Bellwald took its course.

The starting point at the time was the fact that neither the municipality of Bellwald nor private companies were able to cope with the financial demands that the rapid development of tourism in Bellwald brought with it. Within a very short time, the number of guest beds multiplied at the beginning of the 1970s. The mountain village quickly realized that the infrastructure could not keep up with the guest beds without additional funds. The foundations were lacking to allow builders and apartment owners to legally participate in the development of the station. "So we had to set up our own bank in order to provide the initial financing for necessary projects," recalls one of the founders. The idea: Everyone should contribute CHF 500 to the capital of the cooperative for each guest bed. With the money, the tourist offer in the place should be built up and expanded, which in turn would benefit every apartment owner.

"It wasn't child's play to convince people to provide the cooperative with 500 francs per guest bed," says another founder, looking back. "But we believed in the cause and together we managed to convince locals, craftsmen and chalet owners from near and far that this money would not benefit the cooperative but themselves." Members of various village associations sometimes went door to door to inform people. After a year, more than 400,000 francs in capital had been raised. The cornerstone for the success of the cooperative was laid and was to have a decisive influence on the development of the Bellwald holiday resort.

Construction of the Fleschen restaurant by the community and cooperative*

  • Construction of the Hotel zur alten Gasse
  • Reconstruction of the restaurant after avalanche damage*
  • Construction of the first miniature golf course*
  • 2,000 guest beds and 138,000 overnight stays

Construction of the second Furggulti* chairlift

Founding of the old Bellwald Foundation*

Construction of the Ambassador Hotel

Construction of the new school building

Construction of the sports field with five tennis courts by the municipality

3,470 guest beds and 185,000 overnight stays

Construction of the Spittel alpine hut*

  • Conversion and extension of the Fleschen restaurant*.
  • Construction of the mini-golf facilities Gassen*

Construction of the Gassen* skate park

Opening of the Ecomuseum Spittel*.

Construction of the snowmaking system*

  • 4,200 guest beds and 195,000 overnight stays
  • Takeover of the Gassen sports and leisure facilities by the cooperative*.

Sale of the Fleschen Restaurant*

  • Construction of the Gassen farm building*.
  • Construction of the nature and recreation park by the municipality

Construction Playground Kinderland Gassen*

Enlargement of the terrace at the leisure facilities*.

  • Construction of boccia alley*
  • Construction Gadebar alleys

Construction nursery*

Commitment that moved a lot

Mit null Franken in der Kasse ist die Genossenschaft am 8. Februar 1976 gestartet. Mit grossem Einsatz vieler wurde daraus ein Füllhorn für so manches Projekt.

Type of use of funds Proportion of cooperative approx. total investment
Investment in Bellwald cableways 435 000 11 000 000
Investment in Rest. Fleschen 250 000.- 1 140 000.-
Investment in old Bellwald  
Foundation capital 50 000.- 550 000.-
Alpine hut Spittel 30 000.- 150 000.-
Facilities Ecomuseum 10 000.- 85 000.-
Bakehouse Ried 10 000.- 50 000.-
Participation renovation water pipe Unnera 30 000.- 200 000.-
Investment in sports and leisure facilities 270 000.- 3 520 000.-
Operating building Gassen 320 000.- 370 000.-
Gadebar 360 000.- 410 000.-
Capital development
Year Cooperative capital
1975 0.-
1980 497'000.-
1985 640'000.-
1990 668'000.-
1995 650'000.-
2000 700'500.-
2005 764'500.-
2010 799'000.-
2012 918'500.-

Minutes of the General Meeting

Annual Report

Contact form

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