Seasonal in Tourism: Featured Accommodation Expenses (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• University of Lausanne study on seasonal workers
• Commissioned by the Federal Housing Office
• 95 interviews conducted in 4 tourist destinations
• Housing expenses indicated as the main difficulty

Key facts

• What: Analysis of the housing situation of seasonal workers
• When: September 11, 2026
• Where: Adelboden, Leysin, Saas-Fee and Villars-sur-Ollon
• Who: University of Lausanne and Federal Housing Office
• Amount: 95 total interviews, of which 84 with seasonal workers
• Context: Co-financed by the Cantons of Bern, Vaud and Valais

The Swiss tourism sector cannot do without seasonal workers, but their presence is closely linked to the availability of adequate living spaces. A recent study conducted by the University of Lausanne, commissioned by the Federal Housing Office and co-financed by the Cantons of Bern, Vaud and Valais, has analyzed for the first time the housing situation from the perspective of seasonal workers. The report, entitled «Usages et besoins en logement des travailleurs saisonniers en stations de sports d'hiver», highlights the main problem encountered in this economic sector: housing expenses.

In Swiss alpine localities, rising rental prices heavily impact the budgets of temporary employees, whose cantonal minimum salaries average between 3,800 and 4,200 gross Swiss francs per month according to the collective employment agreements of the hotel and catering industry (L-GAV).

…

Operational details

Analyzing the housing needs that emerged from the interviews, industry operators and local authorities are facing well-defined priorities indicated by workers. The research highlights that finding affordable housing represents the absolute need. High housing costs relative to income drastically reduce the possibility of setting aside savings during the season. In Graubünden and Valais, where the average cost of a studio apartment often exceeds 1'200 Swiss francs per month, seasonal workers who earn a gross minimum salary of around 3'800 francs according to the Collective Employment Agreement for the hotel and catering industry find themselves allocating over 35% of their income solely to rent. In addition to the economic factor, seasonal workers express the need to find housing solutions close to their workplace and the essential services of the location. Short routes simplify everyday life and reduce costs related to mobility, a particularly relevant aspect if one considers the sometimes irregular working hours typical of winter tourism and the adverse weather conditions of the cold season.

…

Key points

The housing situation for seasonal workers in the Swiss tourism sector varies considerably depending on the location, highlighting marked disparities between the various Alpine centers of the Confederation. The ease of finding suitable accommodation depends on critical factors such as local availability and prices, the percentage of secondary residences in the area pursuant to the Federal Act on Second Homes (L2H) which entered into force in 2016, the accessibility of transport links, and the housing supply available in neighboring municipalities.

Analyzing regional data, in locations such as Zermatt (Canton of Valais) or St. Moritz (Canton of Graubünden), where the real estate market is under severe pressure, costs for a single room for seasonal workers can easily exceed 900-1200 Swiss francs per month, heavily impacting gross salaries which, according to the Collective Employment Agreements (CEA) for the hotel and catering industry (L-GAV), generally range between 3850 and 4400 francs per month for staff without specific qualifications. Conversely, in peripheral valleys of Ticino or in smaller resorts of the Bernese Oberland, average prices often range between 550 and 750 francs, while still facing issues related to the aging of properties.

Workshops organized in the four examined destinations and discussions at the national level have demonstrated that there is no single solution valid everywhere, but rather the need to develop approaches tailored to local specificities.

…