Sawiri’s mega-project is causing heated discussions

A major project is causing heated discussions in the canton of Uri: The Egyptian investor Samih Sawiris, who is best known in Switzerland for his large tourism project in Andermatt, is now planning a new resort on the Isleten in the canton of Uri that will accommodate tourists directly on Lake Uri .

Sawiris has been active in the canton for over 15 years and has already been awarded honorary citizenship in Uri for his economic achievements. Now he wants to build a hotel complex with 50 rooms and a marina in the village of Isleten, which has almost 500 inhabitants. However, there is resistance to the plans for an area totaling 37,000 square meters.

The opponents, led by the SP and the Greens, want to use a popular initiative to stop the resort project before it enlarges the banks of Lake Uri. They argue that the lake delta is a protected natural monument and that the planned project is oversized and questionable from an environmental point of view. “The project is too big – and it doesn’t bring in the customers we want in this sensitive area,” says Eveline Lüönd from the Green Party to SRF News.

Supporters of the project, however, insist on its economic importance for Uri. “It would generate added value that we need,” explains Ivo Schillig (FDP), who is also aiming to stimulate tourism in the lower part of the canton. He also admits that the project may have to be modified because of nature conservation regulations so that it can be approved. However, this should be clarified in the regular procedure.

Sawiris had previously scaled down his plans – buildings with a total area of ​​55,000 instead of 37,000 square meters were initially planned. The Uri government and parliament reject the popular initiative. The voters will decide on November 24th.

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