Families will be paid as much as £53,000 if they move to a scenic Swiss mountain village with a declining population after residents backed the idea in a referendum.
Voters in the town of Albinen, which is in the southwestern canton of Valais, overwhelmingly supported the initiative to lure new residents.
The measure is aimed at reversing the trend of emigration that has left the settlement in danger of becoming a ghost town.
About 100 of the 240 people left living in the small mountain town flocked to the town hall for the discussion and vote on the unique plan, which created headlines across the world.
Voters in the town of Albinen (pictured), which is in the southwestern canton of Valais, overwhelmingly supported the initiative to lure new residents
About 100 of the 240 people left living in the small mountain town flocked to the town hall for the discussion and vote on the unique plan, which created headlines across the world
The measure is aimed at reversing the trend of emigration that has left the settlement in danger of becoming a ghost town. Pictured: A pleasant home in the town
The Swiss mountain town of Albinen and its scenic Alpine surroundings. Municipality mayor Beat Jost actively campaigned for a yes vote, warning: ‘The town is moving towards an abyss’
In the past few years the municipality has seen three families with eight children moving away, forcing them to close the village school. By attracting young families, the town hopes that one day their old school might even reopen again
Municipality mayor Beat Jost actively campaigned for a yes vote, warning: ‘The town is moving towards an abyss.’
In a secret vote, the citizens of the town approved the initiative with 71 votes in favour and 29 against.
Jost called the vote ‘a clear result that makes me very happy’.
The municipality president said he was ‘proud of the youngsters’ who ‘take fate into their own hands’, referring to the young residents behind the initiative.
In the past few years the municipality has seen three families with eight children moving away, forcing them to close the village school. By attracting young families, the town hopes that one day their old school might even reopen again.
Jost said: ‘Next year only one child will go to nursery school and one to primary school.
‘If we have ten families in Albinen in five years, and every family has two children, then that’s a great thing.’
The one child going to a school is presumed to be starting at one nearby, not in Albinen.
Mayor Jost said: ‘Next year only one child will go to nursery school and one to primary school. If we have ten families in Albinen in five years, and every family has two children, then that’s a great thing’
As part of the accepted initiative, each adult moving into town under the age of 45 will get 25,000 CHF (£18,992), with the town also paying 10,000 CHF (£7,597) for each child
Swiss media reported that ‘the whole world now wants to move to Albinen’ after the news of the cash incentive went viral, making some locals regret their proposition. But now it is too late after it was backed in a vote
Jost said that nobody in town should fear a stream of foreigners as there are still requirements set by the council for those wanting to apply for the subsidies.
But he added: ‘If someone fulfils all requirements and comes from Argentina or China, then they simply come from Argentina or China.’
As part of the accepted initiative, each adult moving into town under the age of 45 will get 25,000 CHF (£18,992), with the town also paying 10,000 CHF (£7,597) for each child.
It means that a couple with two children could get 70,000 CHF (£53,178) if they decide to move to the town.
Swiss media reported that ‘the whole world now wants to move to Albinen’ after the news of the cash incentive went viral, making some locals regret their proposition.
Local dailies report that municipality staff were not too pleased after it was overwhelmed with thousands of requests, the great majority of which were not deemed serious enough. A municipality spokesperson said: ‘Of the many interested parties who contacted the municipality of Albinen, at most one in 100 could be considered a serious applicant’
The town authorities emphasised that only foreigners, including Brits, who have a settlement permit C after five or 10 years’ residence in Switzerland will be eligible for the offer
Municipality president Beat Jost said: ‘Second homes and large residential complexes of investor groups are out of the question’
Albinen, located in a gorgeous valley at an altitude of 4,265 feet above sea level, is a typical mountain town with its own church and the traditional Valais architecture seen in its many chalets
Local dailies report that municipality staff were not too pleased after it was overwhelmed with thousands of requests, the great majority of which were not deemed serious enough.
A municipality spokesperson said: ‘Of the many interested parties who contacted the municipality of Albinen, at most one in 100 could be considered a serious applicant.’
The town authorities emphasised that only foreigners, including Brits, who have a settlement permit C after five or 10 years’ residence in Switzerland will be eligible for the offer.
Municipality president Beat Jost said: ‘Second homes and large residential complexes of investor groups are out of the question.
Even though the town is just under four miles away from the spa town of Leukerbad and the Canton capital of Sion, with the industrial city of Visp just a 35-minute drive, the town has emptied out over the years because of the lack of jobs
Mayor Jost said the town is characterised by its quietness, phenomenal views, great air quality and many hours of sunshine throughout the year
The mayor added: ‘Anyone who moves away again ten years after the start of construction or after buying the house must repay the money’
The municipality president said he was ‘proud of the youngsters’ who ‘take fate into their own hands’, referring to the young residents behind the initiative
‘Anyone who moves away again ten years after the start of construction or after buying the house must repay the money.’
Albinen, located in a gorgeous valley at an altitude of 4,265 feet above sea level, is a typical mountain town with its own church and the traditional Valais architecture seen in its many chalets.
Mayor Jost said the town is characterised by its quietness, phenomenal views, great air quality and many hours of sunshine throughout the year.
Even though the town is just under four miles away from the spa town of Leukerbad and the Canton capital of Sion, with the industrial city of Visp just a 35-minute drive, the town has emptied out over the years because of the lack of jobs.