The Swiss town of Interlaken has once again introduced a planning zone aimed at protecting housing for full‑time residents. The move comes in response to a sharp rise in the number of second homes in recent years. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The planning zone covers residential, mixed-use and core areas. It allows the authorities to pause building permit procedures for up to two years if a project goes against the purpose of the plan. Interlaken introduced a similar measure back in 2018 in response to the rise in tourist lettings on platforms such as Airbnb. Tourism rebounded strongly after the Covid‑19 pandemic and neighbouring municipalities have since tightened their own rules. According to the city parliament, the steps taken in Interlaken are no longer enough. + Locals driven out by luxury homes in Swiss mountains Pressure on the housing market has risen sharply. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of flats increased from 3,431 to 3,724, while ...
