GENEVA (AP) 鈥 A Swiss village has cashed in on a pay-for-entry turnstile used by avid tourists who flock each day to a lakeside dock featured in the hit South Korean Netflix series 鈥淐rash Landing On You,鈥 often to snap souvenir photos.
Local leaders in Iseltwald and tourism officials insist the village's 406 inhabitants aren鈥檛 getting rich off the influx of visitors, who pay 5 Swiss francs ($6.30) to access the dock. In 2024, entries brought in nearly 245,000 francs ($307,000), while a one-franc public pay toilet collected about 58,000 francs more, said village clerk Gabriela Blatter.
Proceeds have gone mostly to garbage disposal, restroom cleaning, additional work hours and custodial staff hires, she said.
Titia Weiland, manager of the B枚nigen-Iseltwald Tourism agency, said the funds go right back to village upkeep: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not correct to read it as 鈥榯he community gets rich鈥,鈥 alluding to some comments along those lines in the media and online.
The village, situated along a small peninsula that juts out into Lake Brienz, features majestic views of Alpine peaks over the water.
An episode in early 2020 of the spotlighted the dock as a romantic getaway. That sparked online hype among fans of the series across Asia and beyond, which hasn鈥檛 let up, fueling the rush of tourism to Iseltwald.
The continued influx has exposed growing pains for the Swiss village, like those faced by other tourist hotspots that get too much of a good thing.
Part of the problem is infrastructure: Iseltwald has three hotels and four restaurants, not enough for about 1,000 visitors who arrive by tour bus, public bus and car each day on average, according to Blatter. The village is revamping a parking lot to help cope with the strain, and the only village store now operates 7 days a week. Previously, it was open Monday to Friday.
鈥淭here were always tourists in Iseltwald. We are happy with them. The problem is that the tourists don鈥檛 understand what鈥檚 private and what鈥檚 public," Blatter said, adding that some traipse through private yards and gardens. 鈥淭hey go everywhere.鈥
For months, fans of the series could visit the dock for free until the turnstile was put up in 2023 to help offset costs incurred by the local government.
Not long ago, Weiland said, 鈥渨e were wishing for more tourists in Iseltwald: In some ways, we are thankful ... but it can be extreme.鈥 Villagers who hosted the crews for on-site filming at the dock had no idea the series would become such a runaway success, she said.
The village has a website devoted to the 鈥渇ilming location" of the series that lists transportation options and entreats visitors to respect the dock, refrain from littering, and consider the 鈥渜uiet atmosphere of this authentic Swiss village鈥 by keeping noise down and avoiding private property.
鈥淓njoy your stay in beautiful Iseltwald and take with you memories to your home country!鈥 says.
