San Bernardino: Green light for major tourism project
Entrepreneur Stefano Artioli wants to turn the Graubünden village of San Bernardino into a tourist destination. The population approved the plans.
San Bernardino (GR) is tackling its tourism revival: Following the unanimous vote of the municipal council, a majority of voters have now also approved the sale of the central Acuforta property to Ticino investor Stefano Artioli and his San Bernardino Swiss Alps SA. Artioli has already acquired several historic houses and hotels in the village.
A spa and wellness resort with publicly accessible areas is to be built on the Acuforta site "to promote the development of San Bernardino as an active tourist destination 365 days a year", as San Bernardino Swiss Alps writes in a press release. An underground car park and additional parking spaces are also planned to make the center of the resort as car-free as possible.
Redesign of the village center
In the first phase of the project development, the village center will be redesigned, including the reopening of the historic Brocco & Posta and Ravizza hotels. New restaurants, aparthotels and private apartments are also planned. San Bernardino Swiss Alps also wants to reopen the ski area, which was closed in 2012, expand the sports facilities and reactivate basic services. According to the company, residents and visitors to the village at the south portal of the San Bernardino tunnel will be offered everything they would expect from a tourist mountain resort. According to reports in the Ticino media, San Bernardino Swiss Alps will invest around CHF 300 million.
"We can now proceed swiftly with the transformation of the village," comments Artioli on the result of the vote. "A transformation that is geared towards modernity, with a focus on sustainability and a strong emphasis on enhancing the beauty of San Bernardino." (ah)
