Lucerne follows Salzburg: New keeping fee for coaches from 2025

Lucerne follows Salzburg: New keeping fee for coaches from 2025

In spring 2025, the city of Lucerne will introduce a new system for coaches, which includes a keeping fee of CHF 100 and a reservation system. This makes Lucerne the first canton in Switzerland to implement such a measure. A look at Salzburg shows how this concept works in practice.

Salzburg has had a similar system since June 2018 that has proven itself in the old town. In the Austrian city, coaches have to pay fees of 70 euros, each covering an option and exit option. These fees have gradually increased; At the start, the fee was 24 euros. The reality in Salzburg has changed drastically: According to Tourismus Salzburg GmbH (TSG), the number of coaches was reduced from 50,000 before the system was introduced to around 24,000.

decline in bus rides

With the introduction of fees, the city has been able to experience a significant reduction in the travel coaches. Originally, 50,000 travel cars started the old town annually, but as early as 2019 it was only 39,000. The mayor of Salzburg, Bernhard Auinger, reports that the introduction of fees has largely received positive feedback from residents and bus companies.

The bus companies have to reserve slots for getting in and out in advance; These slots allow you to remain at the terminals for a maximum of 20 minutes. If you arrive without a reservation, you risk a penalty of up to CHF 250, as the regular fees and additional penalties are added. Some bus companies have tried to bypass the costs by parking their vehicles in non -approved places, which is usually not punished as long as there is no ban on holding.

future developments

In order to further optimize tourism, the Salzburg city government plans to create bust terminals on the outskirts, which are connected to the public transport infrastructure. This could relieve the city center of coaches, while at the same time toilets and kiosks are to be provided for day guests. The closure of the current terminal in Paris-Lodron-Straße is considered, which promotes a relocation of the focus on environmentally friendly means of transport such as bicycles and public transport.

The TSG points out that the termination of the terminal cannot take place without an alternative. A comprehensive traffic concept will be necessary to ensure an orderly handling of the coach. In a recent report on the situation in Salzburg reports www.luzernerzeitung.ch that the city administration team in Salzburg is already working on a concept to further develop the measures. The experience in Salzburg could therefore be of great value for Lucerne, while the city is preparing for the introduction of its own system.