The Chablais water park welcomed its first swimmers on November 26, 1999. Since its opening, more than four million people have flocked to the leisure center. It welcomes on average 250,000 visitors per year. “Aquaparc has placed Port-Valais on the map of Switzerland,” rejoices the president of the commune Pierre Zoppelletto. “It brings Bouveret to life,” he continues.
If the municipality cannot quantify the economic impact of Aquaparc, it assures that the park is a real economic hub for the Haut-Lac region. It also offers a great complementarity with the Swiss Vapeur Parc, the other emblematic attraction of Bouveret. The only thing missing: a hotel to keep families in the region. “In the summer, we have campsites, but otherwise it’s daily tourism,” explains the commune president.
The jobs – between 50 and 100 depending on the season – also provide tax revenue for the municipality, even if many employees are cross-border workers. “Border workers pay tax at source, without the need to have infrastructure for them, so it is beneficial for the municipality,” defends Pierre Zoppelletto.
